by Albert Major
The Philosophical Perspective
Philosophy is the search for knowledge
The branch of metaphysics examines the nature of reality
The branch of epistemology is the study of knowledge
Philosophy of Mind
What is a mind? Is a body necessary to have a mind?
Is the mind physical? What substrate can it be based on?
Most debated: consciousness
The Mind-Body problem
Describes the seeming incompatibility between the physical properties of the brain and the mental qualities of the mind The brain is material and physical and can be studied objectively The mind consists of subjective phenomena such as thoughts, feelings, and beliefs
According to monism, the mind and the body are both made up of the same substance, either mental or physical Aristotle (384—322 B.C.) advocated a physical form of monism. He believed the mind and body were both physical
He stated that aspects of mind correspond to the different physical states of the brain
According to monism the world is mental or physical