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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 and mind–brain identity theory critiques • non-reductive physicalism problems • dualism alternatives • questioning framing of mind–brain debates • audience Q&AThis podcast offers a short, structured introduction to central debates in the philosophy of mind, using classic and contemporary positions to frame questions about what the mind is and how it relates to the brain. Across the series, it examines major physicalist approaches—especially the claim that mental states are identical with brain states—and explores why various versions of physicalism are argued to face persistent difficulties. It also considers more recent attempts to preserve a broadly physicalist outlook without reducing the mental to the physical, highlighting the pressures these “non-reductive” views encounter.
Alongside critiques of physicalism, the podcast surveys alternative frameworks, including renewed interest in forms of dualism associated with figures such as Descartes, and uses these contrasts to clarify what is at stake in explaining consciousness, mentality, and personhood. Recurring issues include whether the mind is something located in space (for example, “in the head”), what counts as an adequate explanation of mental phenomena, and how philosophical inquiry relates to scientific research on the brain. The overall approach treats philosophical analysis as indispensable for identifying assumptions, evaluating arguments, and even reconsidering whether the standard questions about mind and brain are framed in the right way.
The series concludes with a question-and-answer discussion that revisits themes from earlier parts and addresses audience queries about the arguments and positions introduced.
| 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 |