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These materials are printed inThe Philosophy Guidebook: Complete with Maps copyright 1997 by David Felder and available for $10.
Metaphysics
What is the nature of our world?
Challenge: Mind Vs. Matter or Both
Position and Definitions
01. Unitary View of the Universe. There is only one type of substance. Those holding this view usually take the view that the one substance is mind or that the one substance is matter.
02. Mind or Idealism. View that the only thing that exists is minds and ideas in minds. This view is represented in the philosophy of George Berkeley in the 17 century and of Hegel in the 19th century.
03. Matter or Materialism. View that the only thing that exists is matter and that everything, including life, can be explained in terms of matter. This view is represented in the philosophy of Thomas Hobbes in the 17th century and of Marx in the 19th century.
04. Behaviorism. A school of psychology that restricts the study of mind and consciousness to the study of behavior. Because it restricts the study of man to observing the behavior of people, behaviorism is a materialist philosophy.
05. Correlate brain states and mental states. This view claims that for every mental state there is a corresponding brain state.
06. Speak only of brain states. This view wants to eliminate any talk of mental states and speak only of brain states.
07. Two types of substances. This view does not accept the identity of mental and physical and claims that there are at least two different types of substances.
08. Mind Body Dualism. Sometimes called Cartesian Dualism after Rene DesCartes this is the view claims that mind is separate and of a different substance than the body.
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© Copyright 1998 by David W. Felder. All rights reserved.
