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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 • mind–brain relationship • critiques of identity theory • non-reductive physicalism problems • alternatives to physicalism, including dualism • framing the right questions • audience Q&AThis podcast is a short, structured introduction to central debates in the philosophy of mind, using a guided sequence of lectures to examine what the mind is and how it relates to the brain. It frames the discussion around the long-running tension between physicalist views—according to which mental states are ultimately physical states—and various forms of dualism associated with thinkers such as Descartes. A recurring concern is whether treating the mind as simply identical with the brain can accommodate key features of mental life, and whether the difficulties for physicalism motivate alternative metaphysical accounts.
Across the episodes, the host focuses on evaluating specific physicalist proposals and the objections they face, beginning with identity theory and then moving to more nuanced, non-reductive forms of physicalism. From there, the series explores what options remain if these approaches are judged inadequate, considering alternative frameworks for understanding consciousness and mental phenomena. Alongside these theory-driven discussions, the podcast also reflects on how philosophers should pose questions about the mind in the first place, including whether some standard disputes rest on mistaken assumptions or ill-formed questions. The series concludes with an audience-oriented question-and-answer session that revisits and clarifies themes raised throughout.
| 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 |