1. CHURCHLAND 1 REDUCTIVE MATERIALISM also known as THE IDENTITY THEORY

2. Patty and Paul Churchland

3. REDUCTIVE MATERIALISM Also called the IDENTITY THEORY because its central thesis may be stated as an identity: MIND = BRAIN Or consciousness = brain process First clearly stated by J.J.C. Smart and Ullin Place in the 1950s.

4. Notes on Identity An identity statement says, in effect, that we have two names for one and the same thing. 1+2 = 3 Just 2 ways of naming the same number Superman = Clark Kent The Morning Star = Venus Note: Identities can be discovered.

5. Scientific parallels water = H2O fire = rapid oxidation lightning = massive, naturally occurring, static electric discharge, etc. the desk = mostly empty space with some atoms in it Note: powerful explanatory method

6. Inter-theoretic Reduction Standard part of scientific explanation Saves the reality of reduced items i) identity of old and new types cold = rhino-virus infection ii] derivation of old laws from new laws cold caused by exposure to virus cold treatable by anti-viral drugs

7. Arguments for Reductive Materialism i) physical origins of people [individual animals] ii) physical origins of types of animals iii) “neural dependence of all known mental phenomena” iv) advancing neuroscience