Metaphysical Monism
Metaphysical Monism
Question One
Metaphysical monism is a philosophical ideology that stipulates that various existing things in the world can be summarized to one substance. Individuals may prefer monism due to its emphasis on unity. It holds the notion that everything is intertwined together to comprise one whole. Dualism, on the other hand, stipulates that things and reality exists in two parts (Searle, 2001). Generally individual may be attracted to the ideology of dualism as it explains various forms of reality, for instance, good and evil, life and death, body and soul etc.
Question 2
- In reviewing the mind-body problem, Searle attempts to explain how the mind relates the world. The relation of the body to mind is reviewed under the philosophy of the mind that attempts to review the nature of the mind and mental activities with the bodily activities such as the brain. According to Searle, mental phenomena are caused by neurophysiological processes in the brain. The mind-body problem, according to Searle can easily be solved by looking at the mind and body as inseparable entities (Searle, 2001). The mind and the body are one system in the sense that the state of the brain e.g. consciousness is reflected in the body. The mind only exists in the brain, and the brain is part of the body.
- According to Searle the problem of free will arises due to conflict between the desire for freedom and the conviction of determinism. Unfortunately, there has never been an ideal solution to free-will as it is impossible to get on with one’s life without presupposing free will (Stapp, 2009). Free will involves making a voluntary action when faced with a situation that requires decision making.
Reference
Searle, J. (2001). Intentionality: philosophy of the mind. Frankfurt
Stapp, H. (2009). Philosophy of the mind and the problem of free-will. University of California, Berkeley, California
Question 3
Rene Descartes is known for the famous quote Cogito ergo sum which simply means I am thinking, therefore, I exist. Descartes phrase was adopted by many other philosophers and taken as the basis of all knowledge. Descartes arrives at these statements in his quest to determine whether truths exist. Descartes had begun to believe that everything in existence is false. That is until he realized that his existence is the only absolute truth. Descartes had concluded that thought exists; however, thought cannot exist devoid of man as it is the man who initiates the act of thinking (Reynolds, 2010). This thus means that if thought truthfully exists, then man also exists because he initiates the act of thinking. No one could question the existence of man regarding whether it is factual or false. The mere fact that man can think and act means that his existence is truth. The existence of man is an undeniable fact that no one can prove otherwise. Descartes believes that Cogito ergo sum is certain knowledge as it enables man to seek further for knowledge. Through thought, man still in double over the reality of other things will seek various proofs so as to find the truth. Thoughts lead to certain knowledge as is enable man to reason and find the truth of various matter concerning God and nature.
Reference
Reynolds, C. (2010). The quest for knowledge. Retrieved from http://www.global-logic.net/descarte.htm
Question 4
According to Tim Crane mental states have representative priority over pictures and language as it involves interaction with the mind. Crane indicates that the mind is not a thing. The mind involves reviewing a world of capabilities that man possesses. The mind, which denotes all ways that man consciously and expressly deals with a situation determines one’s mental state (Crane, 2003). The mental states supersede pictures and language as it is the mental states that enable man to think and decipher knowledge. For instance, when an individual sees a bird, the act of seeing the bird does not lead to the individual saying that is a bird. Instead, the sight of the bird results to a mental process that leads to the individual thinking that is a bird.
The mental process of thinking enables man to determine an action which he then utters. The mental states thus have representative priority over pictures and language. The explanatory process to determine an object or a situation requires an internal system of representation hence the mental system. Mental systems representative priority over pictures because they mental system is more intrinsic than a picture representation. According to Crane (2003) pictures represents a more straightforward form of representation. However, there is not intrinsic reason why a word represents a particular picture. However, looking at a picture one can think (mental process) and realize that a picture represents a certain person or animal.
Reference
Crane, T. (2003). The mechanical mind. Routledge publishers
Question 5
In Thomas Nagel’s what is it like to a bat, he discusses the importance of consciousness in dealing with the mind-body problem. Nigel indicates that mental systems such as consciousness are subjective issues as individuals experience consciousness differently. According to Nagel, one can only have similar consciousness to another if he is similar to another. Nagel also at the example of robots and animals. Robots can be manipulated to certain functional and intentional states. However, they still lack the consciousness that man possess (Mandik, 2001).
However, animals experience unique states of consciousness, though they lack language and thought. Frank Jacksons also engages in thought experiments in the text, what Mary dint know. In the text, Mary is a character who knows everything about colors but lives in a black and white world. Jackson questions whether she is capable of learning anything new once she is exposed to a world of color. What Jackson attempts to put across is that not all knowledge is physical knowledge. With regards to Mary, there is always room to learn something new (Mandik, 2001). Both Nagel and Jackson disapprove physicalism as the essence of knowledge. Whereas one may know everything in the physical reality, elements of sensation that are not part of the physical nature cannot be achieved. The main difference between Nagel and Jackson is their perception of knowledge. Nagel argument of knowledge target an individual with emphasis on subjective versus objective elements. Jackson, contrastively, analyzes the difference between phenomena and the physical entity.
Reference
Mandik, P. (2001). Mental representation and the subjectivity of consciousness. Philosophical psychology. Vol. 14(2); 179-202
Question 6
- Psycho-physical identity theory is the mind-body identity theory that stipulates that the states and processes of the mind are similar to those of the brain. The identification process of a situation or an experience involves the interaction of the mind and the brain. The identity theory stipulates that experiences are brain process. Some philosophers have argued that though experiences are brain processes, they may have some underlying non-physical properties. However, identity theorists have insisted that there stand does not accept the existence of non-physical properties. Behaviorists, on the other hand, classified identity theory in relation to mental states e.g. belief and desires. Identity theorists have insisted that they are materialists and meant states are actually brain states.
- Computationalism is the view that cognition is computation. Supporters of Computationalism indicate that cognitive capacities can be explained using computations. It is by computation that propositions are explained. The theory of Computationalism has been refuted by many philosophers. One of them is Searle who indicates the theory of intentionality refutes that of Computationalism. Computationalism cannot be used to understand man as man has intentionality i.e. he has the capability to know what their actions (Piccinnini, 2010). The main difference with the application of the theory of Computationalism on man is that man has sufficient knowledge to know and comprehend his actions.
Reference
Piccinnini, G. (2010). The resilience of Computationalism. Philosophy of science. Vol. 77(5); 852-861
Question 7
Stereotype threat is a significant issue for studies of intelligence as it helps in understanding why some individuals feel inferior and challenged while others feel superior and empowered. Stereotype threat is a socially determined threat that affects an individual’s psychology especially in a situation where a negative stereotype applies. An individual may be confident of his abilities, but when informed that he would sit for a test to prove his intelligence he fails. The issue of intelligence is affected by societal expectation. If the society holds the view that an African American is less intelligent than a white, an African American, in anxiety to prove the stereotypes wrong would actually fail. The threat posed by stereotyping threat with regards to one’s intelligence affects his beliefs in his capabilit5ies. An individual may believe that he is intelligent; his confidence is affected by the presence of a stereotype threat that aims to prove the negative with regards to his intelligence (Matter, 2012). Stereotype threat leads to apprehension in which an individual is less enthusiastic of engaging in a certain performance. The lack of enthusiasm is attributed to his fear of failure and confirming the facts relayed by the stereotype. Whether an individual believes in the stereotype threat, does not matter as it indirectly affects his attitudes and behaviors with regards to adequate performance of an action.
Reference
Matter, G. (2012). It’s not me, it’s you. New York Times; Sunday Review
Question 8
The ending of inception leaves the viewers wondering whether, the main character Cobb returns to his children or is still in a dream. The ending of the movie leaves the readers questioning the real versus the unreal scenario of the end. The ending leaves viewers questioning the nature of reality. Cobb is a character who was obsessed with identifying reality. In the end, he ends up a different person having chosen to stop questioning what is reality and what is false and accepts the elements of life that make him happy. In the end, Cobb chooses to accept the elements that make him happy as those that are real.
At the beginning of the movie, Cobb is seated in his hotel room with a gun on his hand. He appears ready to shoot himself so as to wake up from his dream (IMDb, 2012). Cobb is also spinning a top with the hope that by the time it stops, he will back to reality. Cobb uses the spinning act to verify the reality from a situation that is unreal. However, as the film ends he rotates the top but walks away from it. This is symbolic of letting go of the past and obsession with what it reality and what is not. Cobb walks away from the spinning top having decided that elements that make him happy are what constitute reality.
Reference
IMDb, (2012). Inception. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375666/
Question 9
After taking this course, I realize that understanding the operation of the brain is vital, but not adequate for understanding the mind and consciousness. Philosophers argue that it is the mind that gives human beings the conscious elements and sets them apart from inanimate objects. The mind helps man to think hence realizes the virtue of true existence. This is the view that is put forth by philosophers such as Descartes. Descartes states that thoughts are real hence man is real as instigates the thoughts through his brain. However, understanding brain and mind does not entirely help in understanding the elements of consciousness.
Consciousness is a subjective experience that is experiences differently from one person to another. Therefore, consciousness is a subjective state that cannot be objectively understood. There are also other external factors as explained in the theories of behaviorism that demonstrate the inner functioning of one’s mind (Singh, 2011). Behaviors and interactions also play a vital role in establishing the functioning of the mind. The mind has no significant role in determining self-identity as identity gradually changes with exposure to diverse experiences and circumstances. Overall, understanding the mind and consciousness requires an analysis of not only the brain but other external and subjective elements.
Reference
Singh, A. (2011). Brain Mind dyad, human experience, the consciousness tetrad and mental function. Men’s Sana Monographs. Vol. 9(1); 6-41
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