Category: Mind
Posts about philosophy of mind
If there is anything that each person knows, it is that he/she is self-conscious. The “I think” that is associated with all of our perceptions (including our self-perceptions) is pervasive. But what is the self-consciousness that is so basic to the human mind?
Materialists argue that (in some way) mind can be accounted for in terms of brain. Idealists argue that the material world (including brains) is just an illusion produced by mind. Dualists argue that minds and brains are (somehow) separate but related entities. Much hangs on a person’s account of what mind is, because for science to provide “the answer” regarding all observable phenomena, science must be materialistic about mind. Conversely, if materialism about mind is inadequate, then the implication is that science cannot provide a sweepingly adequate account of all that there is.
The following posts and discussions present a history of the philosophy of mind, as well as attempt to show that the Kantian account of mind is the most plausible.
Abstract Objects
We have repeatedly alluded to the notion of abstract objects, as we have talked about, for example, propositions underlying information. As our last point of consideration in this seminar, we will now take a closer look at the necessary existence …
Information Theory Continued
We have settled upon a working definition of “information.” It is: Semantical content intentionally formed and conveyed according to syntactical rules.
We see three primary components of this definition: Syntax (form/structure), semantics (meaning), and intention. Each is a necessary condition …
Introduction to Information Theory
What is information?
At first, that question sounds almost as ridiculous as, “What is light?” or, “What is air?” We are awash in information, like we are awash in light and air. And we have practical, common-sense notions of …
Philosophy of Mind Continued 3
We have briefly introduced and contrasted Humean empiricism and Kantian transcendental idealism. We’ve talked about primary and secondary qualities, and we’ve talked about how that division leads to the Kantian division between “things in themselves” and “appearances.” At this juncture, …
Hume’s Empiricism
David Hume (1711-1776) was a Scottish philosopher who is now universally considered preeminent among the so-called “British empiricists.” However, even higher praise comes from Kant himself, who said that Hume “awakened me from my dogmatic slumber.”
“Dogmatic” in Kant’s time …
Introduction to Philosophy of Mind 1
We each have a mind. We know this by simple introspection. Indeed, if we know anything at all, each of us knows: “I think.”
Even the most radical of the Greek skeptics (from which later forms of skepticism arose) did …
What does “materialism” mean?
This term seems more straightforward than many of the others we are defining. But even this term has important subtleties that are too often overlooked. Evolutionists mean something very particular by it.
In short, “materialism” is a metaphysical commitment. It …
Observables and Unobservables
Let’s say that I ask you a simple question: “Do you have hands?”
Do you even need to look before you answer? Of course not! You have used them, you have seen them, and you have felt them too many …
Realism vs. Anti-Realism
The reason this whole seminar makes “the rubber meet the road,” so to speak, is that we are ultimately doing metaphysics. We are ultimately talking about knowing about what there really is in the universe. We want reality! We …
Evidence
Everything we have discussed so far in this seminar has been leading to this first fundamentally significant point: We must carefully assess evidence in our decisions of what to believe. We are perpetually assessing evidence, so one of our most …