The Dualist View of the Self is mostly linked to a philosopher named René Descartes. This idea says that the mind and body are separate. It suggests there is a non-physical part of us, often called the soul or mind, that interacts with our physical body.
Reasons People Support Dualism:
Looking Inside Ourselves: Many people believe that our own thoughts and feelings suggest we have a separate, non-physical self. Studies show that about 80% of people feel they have a unique inner self.
Qualia: Supporters of Dualism mention something called qualia. These are the special qualities of our experiences, like how chocolate tastes. They believe these feelings can’t be fully explained by just physical things.
Reasons People Challenge Dualism:
Brain Science Evidence: New research in brain science shows that our thoughts and feelings are closely linked to what happens in our brains. About 90% of brain scientists believe in physicalism, which means they think mental activities are just brain activities.
Causal Closure: There’s a principle called causal closure, which says that physical things can only be caused by other physical things. This challenges the idea that there can be something non-physical causing events.
In conclusion, while Dualism has strong points about our personal experiences, most philosophers and scientists lean towards physicalism. This makes it hard to accept that there is a separate, non-physical self.
The Dualist View of the Self is mostly linked to a philosopher named René Descartes. This idea says that the mind and body are separate. It suggests there is a non-physical part of us, often called the soul or mind, that interacts with our physical body.
Reasons People Support Dualism:
Looking Inside Ourselves: Many people believe that our own thoughts and feelings suggest we have a separate, non-physical self. Studies show that about 80% of people feel they have a unique inner self.
Qualia: Supporters of Dualism mention something called qualia. These are the special qualities of our experiences, like how chocolate tastes. They believe these feelings can’t be fully explained by just physical things.
Reasons People Challenge Dualism:
Brain Science Evidence: New research in brain science shows that our thoughts and feelings are closely linked to what happens in our brains. About 90% of brain scientists believe in physicalism, which means they think mental activities are just brain activities.
Causal Closure: There’s a principle called causal closure, which says that physical things can only be caused by other physical things. This challenges the idea that there can be something non-physical causing events.
In conclusion, while Dualism has strong points about our personal experiences, most philosophers and scientists lean towards physicalism. This makes it hard to accept that there is a separate, non-physical self.