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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 • physicalism critiques (identity theory, non-reductive physicalism) • alternatives including dualism • framing the right questions • audience Q&A discussionThis podcast is a short, structured introduction to contemporary debates in the philosophy of mind, framed around the question of what the mind is and how (or whether) it relates to the brain. It situates current discussion against a historical backdrop that includes Descartes’ substance dualism, and uses that contrast to motivate why purely physicalist approaches continue to face persistent difficulties.
Across the episodes, the focus is on examining major physicalist positions and the objections they attract. The series begins with an analysis of identity theory—the view that mental states simply are brain states—and explores reasons given for thinking this approach fails to capture key features of mental life. It then turns to non-reductive physicalist views, which attempt to preserve a broadly physicalist picture while allowing that mental properties are not straightforwardly reducible to physical properties, and it outlines the problems these accounts encounter.
From there, the discussion broadens to consider what alternatives might look like if physicalism cannot succeed, including renewed interest in various forms of dualism and related non-physicalist options. The series also reflects on the possibility that standard mind–body debates may be misframed, asking whether philosophers and scientists might be approaching the topic with the wrong guiding questions. The concluding material is presented in a question-and-answer format, revisiting themes from earlier parts and addressing audience queries.
| 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 |