soul discussion questions

• How might the materialist criticise a dualist approach to questions of consciousness?

  • Descare has have little evidence to convey that the mind is a substance as he merely asserted it
  • we feel pain - don't just see it doesn't explain how mental thoughts had physical responses
  • problem of other minds
  • anthony flew - soul outlines the body is nonsensical
  • describing someone's mind or soul as a substance is a mistake
• How might the dualist respond to materialist criticisms?

  • way we use language like 'emily's body' - human is more than their body
  • mind and body have different properties
  • neuro science can't explain everything
  • soul is fundamental
  • with no belief in a soul - morality becomes a chance
• Is the concept of soul better understood metaphorically or as a reality?

  • distinction between the soul and the body - soul is taken too literally
  • speak of a soul metaphorically - like how me might say a house is empty
  • whole concept of a soul is metaphorical
  • metaphors mean different things to different people
• Does discussion of a mind-body distinction always involve category error?

  • Ryle - distinction between the mind and the body are the category mistake - university idea
  • the whole is more than the sum of its parts - as seen with a village
  • people who speak of human beings being something more than just the physical bodies aren't making mistakes