Questions tagged [philosophy-of-mind]
Philosophy of mind is a branch of philosophy that studies the nature of the mind, mental events, mental functions, mental properties, consciousness, and their relationship to the physical body, particularly the brain.
1,083
questions
0
votes
2
answers
77
views
What is the value of maintaining an interest in catastrophe? [closed]
If i can't help the people I see suffering in the news, what is the value in watching it, given how bad it makes me feel?
- 11
8
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Can happiness be purely a state of mind?
Are there any mainstream philosophers (I assume it is meaningful to define such a subset of philosophers!) who argue that happiness can be a self-induced frame of mind? To put the question another way,...
- 12.8k
1
vote
1
answer
109
views
How to represent concepts without words or gestures (purely in your mind) in a discrete and easily "navigable" way?
I have spent a lot of time thinking about language and how humans may have evolved language, and keep going further and further back into the depths of what may have been known at a certain time, and ...
- 227
1
vote
0
answers
38
views
What are the different types/levels of consciousness in the experiencing of feelings?
What type of consciousness is the mere experience of having a feeling. So one has a feeling of anger, happiness, excitement, etc. By the word "mere," I mean the feeling is not reflected on;...
- 127
2
votes
2
answers
139
views
How do humans generalize abstract concepts from concrete objects?
To elaborate, I would like to take the definition of square as example, the square is shape with four equal sides and either two sides form a 90 degrees angle, while we can not directly see it. What ...
- 21
0
votes
1
answer
105
views
What is the difference between the thing-in-itself and substance? (Kant)
I have thought about this for a long time, but unfortunately still do not manage to understand how exactly the thing in itself differs from substance. I am aware that the thing in itself is something ...
- 150
4
votes
2
answers
309
views
Objections to token-token identity theory in philosophy of mind
There are well known objections to type-type identity (IEP) such as multiple realization and Kripke's argument, but I don't know any objections acceptable (by the majority of philosophers) to this ...
- 313
3
votes
4
answers
197
views
What is there to philosophy these days, other than intellectual self-gratification?
Preliminary notes
I understand that the title of my question has a provocative note. However it also stems from a genuine question.
I come from the standpoint of being a radical agnostic and ...
0
votes
0
answers
17
views
Is anything known about the physical, neural, mental, and/or logical characteristics or conditions of “wanting”?
I do not mean the word “wanting” itself, since a word can refer to many things, or a spectrum of qualities that may or may not be seen a connected thing or not.
If we try to identify a more clear ...
- 126
2
votes
1
answer
156
views
Difference between mental states and mental events?
What is the main difference between mental states and mental events in philosophy of mind? I heard from a lecturer that mental events are those entities which occur instantly or in short period of ...
- 313
1
vote
6
answers
984
views
Why is consent important?
We cannot see or feel consent. Why is it important when its existence cannot be proven?
The importance of consent seems to rely on the principle of respect for autonomy or self-determination; for one ...
- 1,923
19
votes
16
answers
4k
views
Why is mind interacting with matter any more problematic than matter interacting with matter?
So there's this supposedly an 'interaction' problem for substance dualism, that isn't there for physicalism or idealism. I've never understood this.
So as Hume pointed out, we see event a followed by ...
- 2,961
5
votes
3
answers
535
views
What is existence?
If I wanted to define "existence" as "that which we encounter but cannot will", what philosophical tradition would that put me in? What authors took up that position or a similar ...
- 2,407
1
vote
2
answers
94
views
Why should one study? [closed]
At school, a student seems to learn many things that will most likely never be specifically used in their lifetime. So why should they study it at all?
2
votes
5
answers
712
views
Relation between free will and consciousness
What is the relationship between consciousness and free will ? Many scientists think there is no free will.
And does free will mean a phenomenon not bound by cause and effect ?
- 1,157
0
votes
2
answers
92
views
Are moral intuitions considered equally valid as other intuitions?
In reading this article on SEP about intuition: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/intuition/, the following statement is made:
"Consider the claim that a fully rational person does not believe ...
- 8,234
1
vote
0
answers
72
views
How and where do I learn philosophy?
I am very new to philosophy, in what ways can I gain deeper knowledge about the subject itself and explore all the branches and truly understand what philosophy exactly is?
- 11
1
vote
2
answers
69
views
What is the syntactic representation of mental content? Is that even possible?
In the philosophy of mind, the Representational Theory of Mind (RTM) usually is said to be associated with semantic propertys of intentionality. Does representation have to be semantic? What would be ...
- 11
6
votes
7
answers
3k
views
Is mathematical creativity the same as artistic creativity?
Do philosophers distinguish between mathematical creativity, and the broader artistic creativity? If so, what are the differences between these two?
A lot of people seem to treat IQ as something ...
- 3,797
1
vote
5
answers
400
views
Are our emotions underpinned by reasons or is it the other way around?
When one feels fear doing something or feels uncomfortable, is this because of a potential false belief that is undperpinned in a mistake in reason? Or is that person just prone to looking at the ...
- 8,234
9
votes
11
answers
6k
views
The Turing-Asimov Dilemma
The Turing Test is a simple test devised by Alan Turing to check for AI. If a machine is able to fool a human into believing it's a human then that machine is AI.
The 3 Laws of Robotics were laid down ...
- 3,196
5
votes
4
answers
572
views
If one has a tendency to self doubt, how does one know if their next doubt is genuine or a false one because of this tendency?
Suppose you have a brain that has a tendency to self doubt more than others. How would an agent, after analyzing a claim, coming up with a belief, and then doubting his belief, know if the doubt ...
- 8,234
10
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Strawson on Free Will: What are the most persuasive challenges to his position?
There are arguments against free will and moral responsibility which rely on strict causal determinism and/or determinism modified by quantum randomness. Criticisms of these views raise doubt as to ...
- 4,117
-1
votes
2
answers
104
views
How do philosophers support their faith in other minds? [duplicate]
How do you support your belief that other people have minds like yours?
Do you use any arguments to explain the reasons for your belief?
I believe that other people have minds and mental states like ...
2
votes
1
answer
128
views
Please clarify this answer about the argument
I did not understand how this argument should sound.
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/other-minds/#BestExpl
The article reads as follows: On this way of thinking, mental states are taken to be inner ...
1
vote
5
answers
177
views
Is the problem of induction not self refuting? Also, can we be certain of our experience?
The problem of induction is considered a problem because of the argument that ultimately the past does not necessarily predict the future. It could be true that the sun won't rise tomorrow, but it has ...
- 8,234
1
vote
1
answer
94
views
Is this statement convincing and good? [closed]
There is the following wording:
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck.
What type of argument is this?
If we use this argument in favor of the existence ...
0
votes
2
answers
96
views
Are perceptual arguments convincing and good?
Are the perceptual arguments for the existence of other minds convincing and good?
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/other-minds/#PercKnowOtheMind
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/other-minds/#...
0
votes
1
answer
89
views
How do ordinary people and scientists maintain their belief that other people also have minds? [duplicate]
How do ordinary people and scientists maintain their belief that other people also have minds?
Which do ordinary people and scientists use arguments for their belief that other people also have minds?
...
0
votes
0
answers
54
views
Explain what is meant in the article
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/other-minds/#BestExpl
"But he also makes the following, important, observation: “A complete response to the problem of other minds seems obliged to incorporate ...
0
votes
0
answers
19
views
Are certain intuitions more valid than other kinds of intuitions?
Suppose I can't think of any good reason to doubt that the external world is "real". I.e. when I touch the cup in front of me, I recognize that even though it could be an illusion, I ...
- 8,234
1
vote
0
answers
27
views
Is there any psychological research into, or theory about, propositional attitude reports？
What do propositional attitudes such as belief and suspicion mean not just as logical (syntactic) conceptions but as something in the mind？ When I believe or feel skeptical about certain propositions ...
- 55
-1
votes
1
answer
83
views
What is the status of the argument by analogy now?
Now what about the argument by analogy in favor of the existence of other minds.
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/other-minds/#ArguAnal
It is written in the article that he was heavily criticized ...
- 145
3
votes
3
answers
153
views
How to solve "impossible" problems?
In mathematics and philosophy there are some unsolvable problems like Russell's paradox or the liar's paradox that are usually said to be undecidable... There are also other "impossibilities"...
- 569
1
vote
0
answers
30
views
epistemic externalism and content externalism
Putnam's original twin earth experiment shows that the meaning of "water" is determined by external factors. This is an epistemic fact about knowledge and meaning: What we really mean by ...
- 1,008
4
votes
6
answers
274
views
What is the thing which evolves?
I felt puzzled when I heard about the "Ship of Theseus paradox". If we change any part, the whole is not the same as before.
But evolution needs a small change. So:
If A evolves to B., what ...
- 139
0
votes
2
answers
59
views
Instant Gratification and Self-Sabotage [closed]
I notice that I often engage in activities that provide instant gratification and not do the work I am supposed to do. (I need to learn to delay gratification)
I also fall prey to obsessive ...
- 13
1
vote
1
answer
113
views
Flawed Thinking -> Thinking Clearly. Metacognitve approaches to change the way we we think?
Flawed thinking -> Flawed Understanding -> Flawed Conclusions (1)
Flawed thinking -> Flawed application of concepts. (2)
(1) and (2) -> Inability to solve a Novel problem even if you have ...
- 13
0
votes
0
answers
34
views
Opacity in Fodor's computational theory of mind
I don't understand what opaque construals are, nor what opaque taxonomies are. What does he mean by opaque, and how are opaque construals different from transparent construals?
- 101
1
vote
4
answers
151
views
Is conscious thought ever necessary?
I have noticed that every time I end up "sitting down" and "thinking" about something as if it's some sort of exercise to plan out, I end up just repeating thoughts in my head or ...
- 8,234
2
votes
2
answers
180
views
On the axiomatic behavior of the principle of sufficient reason
Have a look at the most controversial principle popularized as the principle of sufficient reason (PSR):
I mean that the concept of PSR, which has been introduced by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, remains ...
- 147
-1
votes
3
answers
172
views
What arguments can I use to justify my belief in other minds? [duplicate]
What arguments can I use to justify my belief in other minds?
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/other-minds/
Here are all the arguments in favor of the existence of other minds, but I do not ...
- 145
0
votes
2
answers
207
views
What's the solution to the problem of other minds? [duplicate]
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/other-minds/
I have never understood what the solution to the problem of other minds is.
At first, the article said that:
"One standard line of reply to this ...
- 145
0
votes
1
answer
114
views
Which do ordinary people and scientists use arguments for their belief that other people also have minds? [duplicate]
Which do ordinary people use arguments for their belief that other people also have minds?
- 145
3
votes
7
answers
579
views
Is it plausible to believe in the existence of other minds if all arguments have been criticized?
I believe that other people also have minds.
To believe in other minds, arguments are needed.
All arguments in favor of the existence of other minds are subject to strong criticism.
So it turns out ...
- 145
4
votes
1
answer
102
views
Genesis of Intellect in Aristotle
I know that Aristotle usually talks about things in the framework of Hylomorphism, meaning everything has form and matter as dual aspects of one being. However, there is one exception.The intellect is ...
- 81
7
votes
9
answers
1k
views
Would language have meaning, if there was no consciousness?
Suppose there is a universe that doesn't have any conscious beings in it, but only humans and other animals that are all philosophical zombies. Now, the humans in that universe utter certain sounds ...
- 5,446
0
votes
0
answers
58
views
What is the solution to the problem of other minds? [duplicate]
Can you explain which solution to the problem of other minds is the best.
As I understand it, the best explanation argument is the best solution to the problem of other minds.
It is written here: ...
- 145
2
votes
0
answers
150
views
What argument in favor of other minds is relevant now? [duplicate]
As far as I understand the best explanation argument is the best argument for the existence of other minds, but I don't understand what is meant here: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/other-minds/#...
- 145
2
votes
3
answers
243
views
is there a possibility that mind still exists after death?
The link between brain activity and qualia is unexplained. But most people think the former causes the latter.
What if its the other way, that our mind creates the external universe?
This does not ...
- 141