Introduction
In looking at the history of thought, dualism has had many uses (Kim, 2003). The field of philosophy of mind dualism has been defined as the theory of the body and mind. The mind and body problem can be stated to be the problem. The reason for stating this fact is because of the relationship that exists between the body and the mind. The body is the physical properties while the mind is the mental properties. These two properties are stated to be part of the physical science. There are different types of mind and body dualism such as substance dualism, predicate dualism and property dualism. This essay will adopt a substance dualist stance on the mind and body problem. One of the most well known philosophers for this notion is Rene Descartes.
For the purposes of this essay, you are to adopt a Substance Dualist stance on the Mind-Body Problem. How might adopting that stance affect the available options when it comes to the Problem of Free Will?
The substance dualism has been a very essential tool that has brought about the thought of the mind and body problem together. According to the philosophy of substance dualism, it has a firm belief that the human brain or mental properties are not able to live outside the body (Perry, 2002). On the other hand, it also states that the body is not able to think. According to many, the substance dualism has been characterized by the properties it contains (Garrett, 1998). The mind is collection of thoughts; this thereby, means that it can be able to think. Adopting the stance of substance dualism on the mind and body, will affect the available options when it comes to the problem of free will.
In order to know the effects, it is important to know exactly what free will means. Free will is defined as the capacity for one to make rational decisions about some action. There are some factors that impede the choices that people make in the society. Some of these factors are social constraint, determinism, mental constraints and physical constraints (Perry, 2002). There are many concepts that are connected to free will.
These concepts are praise, responsibility, punishment and blame. This fact, therefore, means that free will has to follow the moral obligations of the society. In following the substance dualist stance a person will not be able to make his or her own decisions freely. It is a well-known fact that the human body will not be able to do anything without the help of the mind. The mind can be stated to free. Being free means that the mind can be able to choose what it wants to do inside the body (Kim, 2003). The mind has knowledge and has the freedom to pursue whatever decisions it wants and whichever way it wants to choose. The body is not able to think and, therefore, it will require the help of the mind to come up with decisions.
Describe at least one position that would be open to you, given that stance (or relatively easy for you to consistently adopt) and at least one position that would be closed (or relatively difficult for you to consistently adopt) and in each case explain why.
The stance that I would be open to is that the body cannot exist without the brain. This position is supported by the stance from the substance dualism about the body and the mind problem. The thought experiment shows that the animals are more like the machines (Perry, 2002). This notion can be used to explain how human beings operate. The human body is stated to be like a machine. The body being a machine follows the deterministic laws. This, however, is not the same for the soul, which does not follow the laws of deterministic. In looking at the personal identity experiment, where one person is given the approach of being able to lose their memories, harmed and given new memories. The results of the experiment showed that a person will always remember the torture experienced and not the new memories. The experiment is claimed to be that of the bodily intuition. This shows that the body of a human being has some sort of connection to the brain or mind. This connection is what causes a person to remember everything that happens to them. An example is the torture that the body experiences where the pain will be sent to the brain. In looking at people’s lives, they always remember the painful moments of their lives.
The position that would be closed to adapt is the notion that the human body can be able to make its own decisions. How can the body be able to make its own decision? The body cannot be able to make decisions without the help of other organs. The physical property, which is the body, cannot be able to have its own knowledge or make certain decisions on its own (Mills, 1996). The body requires other organs in order for it to be able to operate. This fact can be seen from the thought experiment notions. The experiment of thought states that the machine that is operating is acting due to the response from the organisms. The machine does not use its own knowledge to operate. The body being a machine will also not be able to make decisions on its own. The other parts of the body such as the brain will be the ones that will make decisions for the body.
Describe at least one position that would be open to you, given that stance (or relatively easy for you to consistently adopt) and at least one position that would be closed (or relatively difficult for you to consistently adopt) and in each case explain why.
The stance that I would be open to is that the immaterial properties can be able to control physical properties. Many philosophers would disagree with this stance because of mental causations. The problem of mental causation is that it continues to persist because of the stance taken by philosophers. Philosophers believe that the laws of nature that exists are deterministic (Kim, 2003). The information means that they cannot believe that the soul, which is immaterial, can be able to cause some sort of action from the body. This view cannot be claimed to be realistic. The mind is a complex part of a human being because it may be immaterial but it is able to control most parts of the body and organs.
This control is what brings about the relationship between the body and the mind. The body needs the brain for it to be able to function. This fact also means that the body needs the mind or soul in order for it to function or operate. The mind can be suggested to be an experienced reproducer and recorder. The mind is well known for encoding and retrieving information, emotions and sensation to a person. These information or emotions are the ones that would cause a person to react in a certain manner. This information will cause a person to see the relationship between the body and the mind.
Description and use of another thought experiment or thought probe – again, one NOT covered in class notes, and not the same one used above - is required. That thought experiment or thought probe may be from the Mind-Body section or the Personal Identity
The thought probes that can be used; Are mind and body are the same thing? Is the brain of a person similar to the body? These thought probes are something that many philosophers have tried asking themselves for years. There are many evidences that have shown that the body and mind are connected. In many answers provided the body and the mind are connected and working together. The body is always claimed to work with other organs including the mind (Perry, 2002).
Reference
Garrett, B. (1998). Personal Identity and Self-Consciousness. Routledge.
Kim, J. (2003). Lonely souls: causality and substance dualism. London: Routledge.
Mills, E. (1996). Interaction and overdetermination. American Philosophical Quarterly, 105-115.
Perry, J. (2002). Identity, Personal Identity, and the Self. Hackett Publishing.
