A summary sheet of all year 2 metaphysics of the mind MBTIT. In this sheet it contains the strengths and weaknesses of each theory, possible responses and overall judgement. it provides a framework to aid in answering both long and short answers and can be used as a detailed essay plan.
MBTIT – concepts, problems possible responses, overall judgement
MBTIT (mind-brain type identity theory):
- Says that the mind is the brain, and that all mental states and processes are
identical with brain states and processes.
- Means that mental states are ontologically reducible to brain states -> mental
states are reducible to some brain state – e.g. c-fibres firing.
- Because the theory is claiming an ontological reduction, it is not saying that
‘mental state’ and ‘brain state’ or ‘pain’ and ‘C fibres firing’ is the same thing –
it is not analytically true to say ‘pain is a C fibre firing’ just as it is not
analytically true to say ‘water is H2O’ – rather the theory is saying that these
two terms refer to the same thing in the world.
- This means that the objection that talk about the brain doesn’t mean the same
talk about the mind fails.
- The identity theory says that the relevant identities will be discovered
empirically as our neuroscientific understanding develops.
- So, identity theorists consider the identity between mind and brain as a
contingent identity and dependent on how the world happens to be, not on
conceptual analysis.
Key words:
Ontological Occurs when one type of entity is being shown to be, in reality the
reduction same as another type of entity or being.
- Example: water is identical to collections of hydrogen and
oxygen atoms.
Analytic Involves reducing concepts in one domain to concepts in another
reduction without loss of meaning.
- Concerns concepts and languages rather than things.
- Example: behaviourism -> claiming that ‘S is in pain’ and ‘S is
disposed to exhibit certain behaviours’ mean the same thing.
Type vs token Type = a general class.
Token = a particular of that class.
- Example: the particular instance of a word, such as ‘oak’ is a
token and can be repeated.
- But each instance is a token of the class or type to which it
belongs.
Type and tokens:
- There are different tokens of the same type of mental state.
- For example, if two different people are having the same thought or sensation,
then we can say that each is having a different token of the same type of
mental state.
- The same individual may have a different token of the same type of mental
state on different occasions.
, MBTIT is saying that each type of mental state is identical to a type of
brain state.
Arguments for/ strengths of MBTIT:
- Science strongly argues for this theory
Aligns with neuroscience and can give a purely physical account of
consciousness.
Backed up by brain scans, shows systematic correspondence between
mental processes and states of the brain.
- If we accept theory of evolution – then we must regard all the features of human
beings as the consequence of a material process -> there is no place within the
evolutionary account of our origins for the appearance of a non-physical mind.
- If states of consciousness (such as sensations) could not be reduced to the
physical then they would be as Smart calls ‘nomological danglers’ -> they would
have an ontologically peculiar status as the only thing in the universe that does
not follow the laws of physics.
If we accept the principle of causal closure and that energy cannot be
created or destroyed, then there is no room for such nomological
danglers.
- Can point to the advances of neuroscience which are making the role of the
brain in producing conscious experiences increasingly clear.
A range of types of mental state can today be precisely correlated with
activity in specific regions of the brain.
We also know that the mind depends on the functioning of the brain
because damage to the brain has very particular effects on mental
capacities.
SO, the simplest explanation would be that these regions are producing
these mental states.
- Solves problem of interaction.
For if the mind is the brain, then there is no problem of how two
substances come to interact.
- Solves problems of other minds
For if the mind is just the brain, once we have worked out whether
someone’s brain is operating in the right way we can be sure that they are
minded.
- Allows mental states a causal role in producing behaviour.
(so shows to be stronger than behaviourism) – the identity theory is in
tune with common sense.
Problems of MBTIT:
1.
Dualist 1. Appeals to the evidence of introspection
arguments Defenders of dualism can employ arguments already considered
against this version of physical reductionism – ones that appeal to
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