The Mind-Body Problem – Substance Dualism

The Mind-Body Problem – Substance Dualism

  1. Short Essay Question: (90 marks)

The Mind/Body problem involves the following two positions: Substance Dualism and Materialism. With reference to the course readings, provide a concise formulation of the Descartes’ Substance Dualism. With reference to the course readings, provide a concise formulation of Materialism. In particular, explain the distinction between Reductive Materialism and Eliminative materialism. In light of the criticisms, from the course readings, offered of both Substance Dualism and Materialism, which account is more plausible? Provide an argument in support of your conclusion.

  1. Short Response Question: (10 marks) You should try to limit yourself to two or three paragraphs for this question.

Review the course reading by David Hume on the problem of personal identity. Explain why Hume concludes that personal identity, or the notion of a self, is an illusion.

The Mind-Body Problem – Substance Dualism

Sample Solution

 

upporters of social networking sites are completely invested in the ability to stay in touch with hundreds of friends as well as meeting new people through common interests. According to the article, Is Technology Making People Less Sociable, “A recent survey of adults in the U.S. found that 71% use Facebook at least occasionally, and 45% of Facebook users check the site several times a day.” In this new day of technology in the palm of your hands, adults would rather check their social media feeds over and over again instead of interacting with others. It really seems as if people have forgotten how to interact in real life and how to engage in a face-to-face conversation. It’s quite a sad scene when you take in consideration how relatively new smart phones The Mind-Body Problem – Substance Dualism  and social media are, and no matter how “social” these sites are, they could never replace the comfort and legitimacy of a real-world relationship. For example, even though a person can have a lot of Facebook friends or Instagram followers, they may feel lonelier than ever. Stephen Marche, a writer well-versed in this topic states, “A connection is not the same thing as a bond, and that instant and total connection is no salvation, no ticket to a happier, better world or a more liberated version of humanity” (Marche). The social connection that these sites offer cannot replace or replicate any real connection, and it seems as if people simply do not know how to interact in a real world setting anymore. An important aspect of social networking applications involves the ability for people to express passions, opinions, and feelings. These apps allow users to follow favorite sports teams and musicians, share current news with friends, and randomly post daily thoughts. Based off multiple surveys, “14% of users say that connecting around a shared hobby or interest is a major reason they use social media” (Smith). Others take to the Internet to voice strong opinions about controversial topics, as social media allows people to freely voice whatever is on their mind at any given moment. In reality, this ability to freely post literally anything to any of these social media sites so easily and permanently leads to a massive issue in terms of cyberbullying. Bullying behind a computer screen is something fairly new to most people, but the effects are already destroying ma The Mind-Body Problem – Substance Dualism ny young lives. In late 2016, CBS News released an article regarding a young girl who committed suicide due to the lingering effects of cyberbullying. According to the article, Brandy Vela “had been receiving abusive text messages for months from bullies using an untraceable smartphone application” and her “family says cyberbullying pushed the 18-year-old over the edge, leading h The Mind-Body Problem – Substance Dualism er to shoot herself in the chest” (CBS News). This unfortunate situation is just one incident of cyberbullying, as the free speech and ab>

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