VCE Philosophy (Year 11) · Unit 1 — Existence and Knowledge · 12m read

Metaphysics — The Mind–Body Problem

What is the mind? Is it the same as the brain, or something more? This question sits at the heart of metaphysics — the study of what exists.

Learning objective: Explain and evaluate dualism, physicalism and functionalism as answers to the mind–body problem.

By the end of this lesson you can:

• I can explain Descartes’ substance dualism.
• I can explain physicalism and functionalism.
• I can evaluate each view with an objection.

Hardware and software. Functionalists compare the mind to software running on the brain’s hardware: what matters is what it does, not what it is made of.

Three views

SUBSTANCE DUALISM (René Descartes, 17th century)
• Mind and body are different substances: the mind is non-physical and thinking; the body is physical and extended in space.
• Argument: I can doubt my body exists but not that my mind exists, so they are distinct.
• Objection: the INTERACTION PROBLEM — how can a non-physical mind cause physical movement? (raised by Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia).

PHYSICALISM
• Everything, including the mind, is physical; mental states are brain states.
• Supported by neuroscience (brain damage changes personality and memory).
• Objection: the "hard problem" of consciousness — why do brain processes feel like anything? (e.g. what it is like to see red).

FUNCTIONALISM
• Mental states are defined by their roles: inputs, outputs and relations to other states.
• Allows minds in different materials (e.g. possibly AI or aliens).
• Objection: could something perform all the functions of pain without feeling pain?

Worked example (Medium)

Evaluate substance dualism using the interaction problem.

1. Explain view. Mind and body are separate substances.
2. Objection. Physical causes seem to require physical contact or forces; a non-physical mind has neither.
3. Response. Descartes suggested the pineal gland as the point of interaction — but this just relocates the problem.
4. Judgement. The interaction problem is a serious difficulty for dualism.

Answer: Dualism struggles to explain how a non-physical mind affects a physical body; Descartes’ pineal gland answer does not solve the problem.

Common mistakes

• Treating physicalism as proven by science Correlation between brain and mind is consistent with several views. Fix: Present the evidence and its limits.
• Explaining a view without evaluating it Philosophy requires assessment. Fix: Include objections and replies.

Practice questions

1. The view that mental states are defined by their causal roles is:

   1. Substance dualism
   2. Physicalism
   3. Functionalism
   4. Idealism

   (1 marks)

2. Evaluate physicalism as an account of the mind.

   (4 marks)

Summary

• Dualism: mind and body are separate substances.
• Physicalism: mental states are brain states.
• Functionalism: mind defined by function.
• Evaluate with objections and replies.