Mind Body Dualism Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is Mind Body Dualism?
Mind-body dualism is the philosophical concept of two distinct and separate components of being: the mind and the body. This belief system dates back to ancient Greece and states that humans are composed of both physical and mental entities. It suggests that while these two components may interact with each other, they remain distinct in nature. This means that one’s thoughts, feelings, emotions, memories, etc., are all part of a different mind or spirit than one’s physical body.Proponents of mind-body dualism argue that this separation allows for the existence of free will; if our bodies were solely determined by physiological forces then it would be impossible for us to make our own choices or decisions. They also suggest that since the mind is not bound by physics or biology it could potentially survive after death in some form or another. Further, some also view this concept as providing an explanation for consciousness; if our minds were independent from our bodies then we could understand why we experience awareness and subjectivity while remaining connected to physical reality. Opponents believe that this notion is too vague and provides no real scientific evidence to support its claims; instead they favor a more unified approach which sees everything as ultimately interconnected within a physical universe governed by laws such as those of chemistry and physics. Additionally, they point out potential inconsistencies in how dualists attempt to explain certain aspects such as pain perception or behavior control if there are two separate entities involved here then how do they interact? Despite its popularity throughout history, mind-body dualism has remained somewhat controversial due largely to conflicting explanations between scientists and philosophers on whether it accurately reflects reality or not. Even so, many continue to adhere to this view because it offers an intriguing way for us to consider both aspects of being human: our minds and our bodies working together yet still keeping their individual characteristics intact.