1. Mind-Body Problem Unit 1: What Is A Person Mr. DeZilva Grade 11 Philsophy

2. Quick Recap… Empiricism versus Rationalism Discuss

3. The Mind-Body Problem The problem examines the correlation between mind and matter, reason and experience, empiricism and rationalism The MIND = The “Mental World” The BODY = The “Physical World”

4. The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Paul Edwards editor. Macmillan: New York, 1967 “The mind-body problem, in the first instance, concerns the question whether a valid distinction can be made between the mind and the body. If such a distinction can be made, then we can ask whether in Fact any things exist to which we can apply either term, or both terms. Finally, if there are things to which both terms can be applied, we can, for those cases, ask what the relation is between the mind and the body.”

5. Mind-Body Cont’d The problem initiates the questions:  “Are the Mind & Body separate things?” Dualism  “Are the Mind & Body 2 aspects of 1 thing?” Monism

6. Dualism The concept that the “mind” and the “body” are separate entities that are obviously related but still functionally distinct.

7. Dualism Cont’d First addressed directly by Rene Descartes (1596– 1650) Cartesian Dualism asserts that there is a “Mental World” and a “Physical World”

8. Mental & Physical States Physical: The properties and characteristics of something that can also be described through empirical evidence

9. Mental States & Physical States Mental: an umbrella term for our hopes, dreams, aspirations, perceptions, thoughts, feelings, emotions, and everything else that goes on in our mind

10. Subjectivity An opinion, belief, or feeling that is pertinent to the individual (or the subject). Art, for example, and art interpretation is largely subjective Intentionality: Mental states have Intentionality; they refer to things other than themselves

11. Subjectivity cont’d Opposite of Objectivity: a “universal” truth; free from human perception and factual. Math is typically viewed as the one true objective truth  2+2 = 4 Why Objective?