Novy Metaphysics SP10

Introduction to the Mind / Body Problem

Taylor Chapters 2 &3

§ The Reality of the self and the body

 

  1. It seems indubitable that there is me, and
  2. That there is a relation of some sort between me and my body
  3. So, what is the meant by “I have a body”

A.       My body is identical with me

B.       My body is a thing possessed by me

C.       My body is independent of, but connected to, me in some special way

 

§ Materialism (Option A)

 

  1. Like a bicycle, I am merely an aggregate of material parts
    1. A bicycle is nothing beyond the collection of its physical parts properly arranged
    2. The earthworm and I are merely proper arrangements of more complicated parts
  2. Great advantage: simplicity
    1. Ockham’s Razor: Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem
    2. All questions regarding mind / body are dissolved away
    3. Explains my great concern for my body’s welfare
  3. Identity: If X and Y are identical, any thing (and only those things) that can be said of X can also be said of Y and vice versa
    1. Testing the materialist thesis

A.       Question1: is there anything true of my body that is not true of me?

B.       Question2: is there anything true of me that is not true of my body?

1.        Moral predicates

2.        Epistemological claims

 

§ Platonic Dualism (Option B)

 

  1.  There is some radical distinction between mind and body
    1. Usually, the mind has properties that are simply not possible of a physical object (and vice versa)
    2. The real me is a mind which is merely using or occupying my body

A.       My fate and that of my body are ultimately different

8.         “I have a body” means

a.        “My body is a thing that I possess” ?

    1. “My body is a thing that I occupy” ?
    2. “My body is a thing that I use” ?

 

§ Interactionism (Option C)

 

  1. I am both mind and body
  2. My non-physical mind has causal power over my physical body & vice versa
    1. The mind and body that are “mine” are those which are connected in this way
    2. The notion of voluntary action seems to require such a causal relationship
  3. Problems:
    1. Unintelligible: if mind and body are wholly different sorts of things, they cannot interact
    2. Testability: can ever see mental actions or merely their effects?
    3. Where is the locus of interaction?
    4. Has no explanatory value

 

§ Once mind and body are distinguished, there are a plethora of explanatory theories

 

Chisholm’s cartoon (p. 17); the positions above are the ones taken very seriously today