Philosophy and Psychology L1: Dualism, philosophical and psychological behaviorism

This is called the Philosophical toolbox:

1. determining the certainty of claims

2. assessing the strengths of arguments

3. analyzing concepts, definitions, explananda

4. interpreting scientific results and conclusions

5. scientific integrity

6. ethical reflection

Descartes: Given that I can only observe the behavior of others, how can I conclude that the others have minds? This is called the problem of other minds.

explanandum = a sentence describing a phenomenon that is to be explained

the mind (psychology generalization) = consists of perceptions, sensations, emotions, beliefs, desires and intentions

mental states (psychology generalization) = have certain properties

(1) are caused by the world: pain

(2) cause actions: applying bandage

(3) cause other mental states: fear of surgery

(4) are conscious & have a particular quality: what-it-is-likeness

(5) have intentionality

(6) are correlated with certain brain states

Substance dualism states that humans consist of 2 substances: the physical substance (shape, size, location in space) and the mental substance (thinking, anything markes by consciousness: 'willing', 'believing', 'doubting', 'hoping', 'dreading'). The theory contains the argument corgito ergo sum, as well as the Leibniz principle of indiscernebiles.

I think, therefore  I am

I can doubt anything, except the fact that I am doubting

This is called Corgito ergo sum.

X=Y, but only when X and Y share all properties

This is called Leibniz principle of indiscernebiles.

When proofing substance dualism, with the Leibniz principle the result is:

(B) I am not identical with my body, because

1. I can doubt that I have a body

2. I cannot doubt that I exist

3. Ergo, I am not identical with my body

Arguments that support substance dualism:

- rationality, language, consciousness

- something physical is not conscious: cannot reason or use language

arguments against substance dualism:

- arguments against Leibniz principle of indescernebiles

- problem of mental causation

- methodological problems

- physicalism/materialism

argumenst against substance dualism by argumenting against Leibniz principle of indescernibles:

(1) (does/doesn't) work for psychological states

(2) What I think about something (is/is not) necessarily a property of that thing [morining vs evening star]

(3) Eventhough I can doubt that I have no body, this (does/does not) imply that I am not identical with my body

(4) it is (certain/uncertain) whether physical objects have consciousness: AI, robots

An argument against substance dualism is mental causation:

it means, how can intentional thoughts/mental states cause intentional actions?

- how is interaction between mental and physical possible

- causal closure of the physical domain: we can give a full explanation without refrence to the mental

What are arguments against substance dualism regarding methodoligical problems?

- substance dualism claims that we (know/ don't know) the mind by means of introspection

- we are directly aware of our own mental states, but have to know the mental states of others we need to refer to their (behavior/ TOM)

- just because I know my mental state, this (does/does not) imply that I know the one of another person

- introspection (is/ is not) reliable

What are arguments against substance dualism regarding physicalism/materialism?

- there (are/ are no) mental substances

-there (is/ is not) a problem of finding a place for the mind in a physical world

Psychological behaviorism

- focuses on explaining behavior in terms of (S-R actions/introspection)

- (is/ is not) against postulating non-observable mental states

- (does/ does not) include operant and classical conditioning

introspection = looking inward to examine one's thoughts and emotions

Problems of psychological behaviorism

- S-R paradim (does/ does not) work for complex behaviors

- the stimulus argument (is/ is not) poor [Chomsky]

In (psychological/philosophical) behaviorism:

- mental states are behavioral dispositions = tendency to display certain behavior in certain circumstances

- a disposition (is/ is not) the cause of behavior, it (does/ does not) guarantee that the behavior will occur

- observable behavior (does/ does not) operationalize the meaning of mental states

Therefore, (psychological/philosophical) behaviorism is a thesis about the meaning of mental states

Gilbert Ryle from 'the concept of the mind' hypothesized

1. mental causation

2. paramechanical hypothesis

3. mental holism

Gilbert Ryle 'the concept of the mind'

- analysis of statements about the mind shows that these statements are about (dispositions/ mental causes) to behave

- including (mental holism/ paramechanical hypothesis)

- the mind (is/ is not) a concept that refers to a set of behavioral dispositions

- Regarding the Cartesian dualistic assumption Ryle argues that the mind (is/ is not) a 'thing' that causes our behavior

- Cartesian substance dualism (is/ is not) based on the category mistake, things belonging to a particular category are represented as if they belong to a different category

category mistake, things belonging to a particular category are represented as if they belong to a different category

A) category mistake

B) mental holism

C) problem of other minds

In philosophical behaviorism the mind is:

A) perception, sensation, emotion, beliefs, desires, intentions (psychology general)

B) the mind is manipulated when the brain is manipulated (Identity Theory)

C) every mental state is identical with a brain state of a specific type (Type-Identity Theory)

D) organization of behavior, manifested in the intelligent actions of people in a certain context (philosophical behaviorism)

Philosophical behaviorism claims that Substance dualism is based on the category mistake.

Regarding the 'problem of other minds' we interpret behavior instead of introspecting mental states. This fits to psychological behaviorism or philosophical behaviorism.

Mental holism means that there is no one-to-one relation between behavior and mental states: the disposition to drink a glass of water can be caused through feeling thirsty, stressed or good.

A list of all behaviors will be infinitely long.

One and the same mental state can lead to different behaviors in different circumstances.

What is an argument against philosophical behaviorism? Remember philosophical behaviorism has to do with behavioral dispositions.

Mental holism means that there is no one-to-one relation between behavior and mental states: the disposition to drink a glass of water can be caused through feeling thirsty, stressed or good.

A list of all behaviors will be infinitely long.

mental states without the corresponding behavioral expression, for instance: being in pain but not showing pain

A) superstoic

B) perfect pretender

behavioral expression without the corresponding mental state: laughing, but actually feeling sad

A) superstoic

B) perfect pretender

Is the mind the cause of intelligent behavior?

Ryle argues that the relation between the mind and behavior is (conceptual/causal). This does not preclude a (conceptual/causal) relation.

Intelligent behavior has a different cause than non-intelligent behavior.

1: mental states without the corresponding behavioral expression, for instance: being in pain but not showing pain

2: behavioral expression without the corresponding mental state: laughing, but actually feeling sad

A) superstoic: 1

B) perfect pretender: 2