Week 5: Dualism and Physicalism

Should we, as human beings, think of ourselves as made out of two different substances, like Decartes argued? Or are you persuaded by the arguments of physicalism that we are purely physical beings?

If you agree with Descartes, how would you explain the fact that our mental life seems to be very closely connected to a physical organ, namely the brain. If you agree with physicalism, how do you explain the fact that our mental life seems to be like nothing else in the physical world (think of how unique something like consciousness is, for example).

Both Dualists and Physicalists come up with very good theories on the mind and the body. I am more on the dualism side because they believe mind and body are separate and important. As a Christian, I believe our bodies are places our souls live in order to live in the physical world. Once our bodies reach death, our souls still live on in heaven, our true selves. For someone who isn't religious, the explanation of an out-of-body experience can make sense. Some people have experienced coming close with death and they watch over their bodies as a soul. I believe once a mind/soul has control over a body, it can use it to its full potential, but without a body, it wouldn't have the necessity to eat, breathe, or laugh. 

The mind is very powerful, when one's emotions are down, that is communicated to the brain and it sends messages to the rest of the body, and the body begins to feel tired and a bit weaker, because the emotion of the person is down. Or, when someone is having a good day, they suddenly feel more energetic and their body functions a bit better. It cannot be denied that our mental life affects our physical brains. The mind causes you to make decisions that may change your body such as overeating when stressed out or losing sleep because you may feel paranoid after watching a scary movie, and you start to notice bags under your eyes and paler skin. Also, there have been cases of miracles such as a pastor praying at a church to make a disabled man walk again, and it actually happens. Phenomena like this are very hard to explain how it can happen, but surely it is not the work of the brain alone, there is the mind/soul. I think the mind interacts with the brain but can also be known as a soul. 

The brain is more of a messenger, it has access to the mind and body and allows the body to interact with the mind. Descartes believed there was an extra organ called the "vital spirit" in the human body, but I don't think that is the case because it didn't seem like a well-researched answer to justify his beliefs on dualism. If the mind and body weren't separate, then they would have to be identical, but since the mind is non-physical and no one can hear, taste, touch or see it, it is very different from the brain and body. Perhaps it could be the non-physical part of the body that is connected, I am open enough to believe the research could change. 

Our consciousness is very complex and cannot be explained by the physical world. There are beliefs, ambitions, feelings of love and the need to find out our identities. The body reproduces, but it's the mind that forms love since it is a non-physical term that becomes real when people get married or spend time with each other. Also, if we were only our bodies, we would have everything we need, yet, people still try to figure out who they are, and why they exist. The idea of purpose itself is part of the conscious mind. If we were only bodies, we'd ask "Who am I? Oh, there I am" and our appearance would be enough.  People have ideas on justice, ethics and living a fulfilling life. That sounds like dualism to me, there is a mind, and a body, the body alone is not enough.