Philosophy of Mind: An Introduction
The Mind-Body Problem:
Five Philosophical Observations: 1) You have a mind and a body 2) These normally work together 3) Your body is physical and, thus, publicly observable 4) Your mental life is essentially private; no one else can feel your pain, or experience the images you do; and unlike the physical realm the mental realm is not publicly observable, therefore, 5) You have privileged access to the contents of your own mind
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Consciousness studies- What is Consciousness?
I can taste you
I can feel you
I can see you
I can smell you
I can hear you.
Do we have other senses?
Proprioception – yes
Arguably the most central and distinguishable aspect of consciousness is experience, …show more content…
For he holds that ideas are, strictly speaking, the only objects of perception, or conscious awareness. Independent of this theory of ideas, Descartes' methodical doubts underwrite an assumption with similar force: for almost the entirety of the Meditations, his meditator-spokesperson (the ‘meditator’), adopts the assumption that his every thought is occurring in a dream. Essentially the assumption is a requirement that justification come in the form of ideas”. Reference: Lex Newman (2005) ‘Descartes Epistemology’ in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Available online @ …show more content…
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Dissolving Dualism.
Identity Theory?
Identity theory was developed in the 1950s and is associated with such philosophers as J.J.C. Smart, U.T. Place and Herbert Feigl.
The theory goes back to the 17th century, but was especially influenced by modern research into brain function that suggested localisation, i.e. different parts of the brain seemed to be associated with different actions. This had long been suggested by earlier research conducted in the 19th century by such figures as Dr. Paul Broca (1824-1880) and Dr. Carl Wernicke (1848-1904).
The theory claims that when we experience something, for example, some pain, that is exactly reflected by a corresponding neurological state in the brain (such as the interaction of certain neurons, axons, etc.). From this point of view, your mind is your brain - they are identical.
Wilder Penfield, Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill, revolutionised our understanding of the human brain. Penfield refined and extended a daring surgical technique learned from his German mentor, Otfried Foerster.
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Identity