Soul, mind and body

• What is dualism in philosophy?

  Two different types of existence: mental and physical
• What is substance dualism according to Descartes?

  Two different substances: mental and physical
• How does Descartes characterize mental substance?

  Characterized by thinking
• How does Descartes characterize physical substance?

  Characterized by extension
• What is monism in philosophy?

  One kind of existence
• What is materialism?

  One kind of existence is physical substance
• How did Plato view the body in relation to the soul?

  The body is like a prison for the soul
• Where did Plato believe our souls originated?

  From the world of forms
• What is the charioteer analogy?

  Analogy used by Plato to explain the soul
• What is Plato's argument from recollection?

  Knowledge of perfect concepts is innate
• What does Plato claim about perfect concepts?

  We have knowledge of them a priori
• How did Socrates demonstrate the argument from recollection?

  By questioning an uneducated slave boy
• What does anamnesis refer to in Plato's philosophy?

  Re-remembering forms through experience
• What is the consequence of Plato's rationalism?

  There must be a world of immutable forms
• How does Plato differentiate between the world of forms and the world of particulars?

  The world of forms is true reality
• What is Plato's argument structure regarding perfect concepts?

  P1: We have concepts of perfect things; P2: We never experience them; C1: Knowledge must be innate
• What is the subjective nature of justice and beauty according to the text?

  They are determined by personal opinion
• How does mathematics differ from concepts of beauty and justice?

  Mathematics is not subjective
• How does Hume respond to the idea of perfection?

  We can conceive perfection from imperfection
• What does Hume suggest about mathematical knowledge?

  It could come from experience
• What alternative explanation does the text provide for innate concepts?

  Evolution could explain our sense of morality
• What does Aristotle think about Plato's theory of forms?

  It lacks empirical validity and explanatory power
• How does Aristotle define form?

  As the essence or defining quality of a thing
• What is Aristotle's view on the relationship between form and body?

  Form cannot be separated from the body
• How does Aristotle view the soul?

  As the form of the physical body
• What analogy does Aristotle use to explain the relationship between body and soul?

  Stamp imprint in wax analogy
• What does formal causation refer to?

  The essence or defining characteristic of a thing
• How does F. Bacon view formal causation?

  It is beyond empirical study
• What does modern science argue about formal causation?

  It has no reason to think it exists
• How does modern science explain color?

  Through the activity of particles like atoms
• What is Aristotle's view on the rational soul?

  It is the defining feature of a human
• What do neuroscientists claim about rationality?

  It reduces to material brain structure
• What is Descartes' substance dualism?

  Two distinct substances: mental and physical
• What is the essence of physical substance according to Descartes?

  Extension in space
• What is Descartes' indivisibility argument?

  The mind is non-extended and indivisible
• What does Leibniz' law state?

  Identical things must have the same properties
• What is the conclusion of Descartes' indivisibility argument?

  The mind cannot be identical to the body
• What is the objection to Descartes' premise that the mind is indivisible?

  The mind can be divided into different functions
• How does Descartes respond to the objection about the mind's divisibility?

  Consciousness is undivided despite its functions
• What modern phenomena challenge Descartes' view of consciousness?

  Blindsight and separated brain hemispheres