The Mind/Body Problem and its Solution

by

Fergus Duniho

A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Approved by Dr. Selmer Bringsjord, Thesis Advisor

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, New York

April 1991 (For Graduation May 1991)

Contents

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

1. THE PROBLEM

The Mind/Body Problem

Definitions of Terms

The Meanings of the Four Propositions

Why Each Proposition Seems Plausible

The Related Problem of Free Will

Why Each Proposition Seems Plausible

2. THE THEORIES

The Six Categories of Solutions

Mind/Body Dualism

Mentalism

Physicalism

Neutral Monism

Emanationism

Supervenience

Summary

3. COMPARISONS

Interactionism vs. Occasionalism

Epiphenomenalism vs. Pre-established Harmony

Occasionalism vs. Pre-established Harmony

Objective Mentalism vs. Subjective Mentalism

Bell's Theorem and the Case for Subjective Mentalism

Other Alternatives to Einstein's Universe

Back to Mentalism

Objective Mentalism vs. Collective Mentalism

Strong Functionalism vs. Behaviorism

Strong Functionalism vs. Eliminative Materialism

Platonism vs. The Chain of Being

Panpsychism, Vitalism, and Emergentism

4. THE SOLUTION

Mind/Body Dualism vs. Relativity

A Better Explanation for the Spin-Measurement Experiments

The Functionalist Concept of Mental Events

Non-Algorithmic Mental Events

Why Neutral Monism Implies Empiricism

Why Matter Cannot Depend on Mind

The Extent of Idealism in the Other Theories

The Materialist Concept of Mind

Emergentism

5. THE IMPLICATIONS

The Implication for Epistemology: The Active Mind Theory

The Role of the Active Mind Theory in Education

The Active Mind Theory and Narcotics

The Implications for Religion: Atheism and Mortality

The Implication for Politics: Individualism

BIBLIOGRAPHY

APPENDIX

Abstract

The purpose of this essay is twofold. Its first purpose is to present a clear discussion of the mind/body problem. This is the question of how the mind and body are related to each other. To that end, the first chapter will present the problem in a clear, precise form. The second chapter will then introduce the various possible solutions to the problem. By describing how each solution answers the mind/body problem, it will help toward a better understanding of the problem itself. For the sake of highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each possible solution, the third chapter will compare similar theories to each other. This will help give a good overview of the problem and its ramifications.

The second purpose of this essay is to argue that Emergentism is the correct solution to the problem. To this end, the third chapter will eliminate the weakest among similar theories. The fourth chapter will then compare Emergentism to the other theories that have survived chapter three. The fifth chapter will close this essay with a discussion of the implications that Emergentism has for epistemology, religion, politics, and other concerns.

Fergus Duniho / fdnh@troi.cc.rochester.edu