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The mind is a fascinating entity. Where, after all, would we be without it? But what exactly is it? These days many people believe the mind simply is the brain. Descartes would have disagreed profoundly. He recommended a dualism of substance. Modern philosophers are again finding various forms of dualism attractive because the problems with physicalism are so intractable. One such problem is whether the mind, like the brain, is located in space (specifically inside the head). But does philosophy have anything sensible to say about the mind? Surely today it is scientists we should be listening to? Come and find out why this is – and always will be – false.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ philosophy of mind overview • mind–brain relationship • critiques of identity theory • non-reductive physicalism challenges • alternatives to physicalism, dualism • reframing key questions • audience Q&AThis podcast is a short, structured introduction to central debates in the philosophy of mind, focusing on how to understand the relationship between mind and brain. It frames the topic as a live philosophical problem rather than one that can be settled by empirical science alone, using classic positions such as Descartes’ substance dualism as a point of contrast with contemporary assumptions that the mind simply is the brain.
Across the series, the discussion concentrates on different varieties of physicalism and why they are thought to face persistent difficulties. It examines reductive approaches such as identity theory, which aims to identify mental states with brain states, and then turns to non-reductive physicalist views that attempt to preserve the reality of mental phenomena without reducing them straightforwardly to neural processes. The episodes explore what kinds of problems motivate dissatisfaction with these approaches and why some philosophers have found alternative frameworks—including renewed interest in dualist options—attractive.
A recurring theme is the importance of getting clear on the questions being asked: what the “mind” is supposed to be, what it would mean for it to be located in space, and how philosophical analysis can shape or even revise the way the mind–body problem is posed. The series also emphasizes methodological issues about the respective roles of philosophy and science in theorizing about consciousness and mental life.
The overall arc moves from critiquing specific physicalist theories, through considering broader alternatives, to reflecting on whether common formulations of the problem mislead, and it concludes with an audience-oriented question-and-answer session that revisits and clarifies the key ideas.
| Episodes: |
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Part 5: Questions and Answers 2012-Apr-10 67 minutes |
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Part 4: Are We Asking the Wrong Questions? 2012-Feb-07 82 minutes |
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Part 3: If Physicalism Won't Work, What is the Alternative? 2012-Feb-07 67 minutes |
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Part 2: Non-Reductive Physicalisms and the Problems they Face 2012-Feb-07 91 minutes |
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Part 1: Identity Theory and Why it Won't Work 2012-Feb-07 90 minutes |