dualism

The Causal Argument

1) If Cartesian Dualism is correct, then immaterial minds affect the motion of material bodies.

2) If immaterial minds affect the motion of material bodies, then they must exert a force.

3) If immaterial minds exert force, then they must have mass and occupy space.

4) Immaterial minds don’t have mass or occupy space.

5) [So] Cartesian Dualism is incorrect.

One person could in principle neverrecognize the difference between the rational and the irrational utterancesissuing from other human bodies, sincehe could never get access to thepostulated immaterial causes of some oftheir utterances. Save for the doubtfulexception of himself, he could never tellthe difference between a man and aRobot…

According to the theory, external observers could never know how the overt behavior of others is correlated with their mental powers and processes and so they could never know or even plausibly conjecture whether their applications of mental-conduct concepts to these other people were correct or incorrect.

The Problem of Other Minds

1. If Substance Dualism is correct, it’s possible for all of the human bodies around you to lack minds and yet behave just as they do.

2. If that’s possible, then you have no evidence of other minds.

3. You do have evidence of other minds.4. Substance Dualism isn’t correct.

1. There are perturbations in the orbit of Uranus.

2. The best explanation for (1) is the existence of an eighth planet.

3. There is an eighth planet.

1. The human bodies around me cry when kicked.

2. The best explanation for (1) is the existence of other minds.

3. There are other minds.

1. Hamlet can be read in one night.2. Hamlet is similar to MacBeth.3. MacBeth can be read in one night.

1. My body has a mind.2. My body is similar to the other

bodies around me.3. The other bodies around me have

minds.

1. A Rylean Robot lacks a mind.2. A Rylean Robot is similar to the other

bodies around me.3. The other bodies around me lack

minds.

The Problem of Other Minds

1. If Substance Dualism is correct, it’s possible for all of the human bodies around you to lack minds and yet behave just as they do.

2. If that’s possible, then you have no evidence of other minds.

3. You do have evidence of other minds.4. Substance Dualism isn’t correct.