What is the mind body problem? Provide details of some responses to it from history and explain their impact on psychology.
by
dejunglelrom (student)
What is the mind body problem? Provide details of some responses to it from history and explain their impact on psychology.
The qualitatively different nature of mental states and physical sensation may imply that mind and body are distinct entities and yet it is readily apparent that they are connected in human consciousness. The debate over how the mind and body interact to produce conscious experience is referred to the mind body problem (Carlson, 2005; Richards, 2010). There have been numerous historical responses to this problem which can be broadly thought of as "dualist" versus ‘monist’ in nature (Fodor, 2006). Dualism argues that the mind is not physical, existing separately from the body, whereas monist mind body problem responses argue that the mind and body are not fundamentally distinct (Carlson, 2005). Here we examine a number of these opposing responses to the mind-body problem throughout history, and discuss their individual and overall impact on modern day psychology, discovering that although no response has solved the mind body problem, each has lead psychology to a greater understanding of itself and its aims. Thus a solution to the problem may be unnecessary (Richards, 2010; McGinn, 1989).
Some of the earliest responses to the mind-body problem were suggested by the early Greek physicians, Alcemaon and Hippocrates (Hothersall, 2004). They argued that all sense perception and mental experience was derived from the brain (Hothersall, 2004). Thus, they proposed early monist materialistic responses to the mind body problem. From a materialist perspective, the mental is not distinct from the psychical; all aspects of mental experience (e.g. its processes, properties and operations) are identical to those of the psychical realm (Fodor, 2006). Such responses to the mind body problem were singular for their time. Alcmaeon and Hippocrates’ suggestion of the brain as the centre of conscious experience may seem obvious from our modern perspective. However it was an important sign post to elucidating the vital influence of the brain across the whole of human life.
The next influential historical responses to the mind body problem arose from the philosophy of two of the ancient world’s great thinkers; Plato and his student Aristotle. They held differing ideas on the correct response, however both their ideas would prove influential for a millennia (Hothersall, 2004). Platonic ideas regarding the interaction of the mind and body were dualist. Plato rejected Hippocrates materialist perspective, arguing that the ‘soul/mind’ was distinct from the body, having had three parts, housed in three different organs/systems of the body (Hothersall, 2004). He further suggested the first part of the soul was immortal, but the two remaining parts died with the body (Platonic Dualism) (Carrier, 1995). In contrast to Plato’s ideas, Aristotle’s’ responses to the mind body problem can be described as broadly monist. For Aristotle, the ‘soul/mind’ was not immortal and was inextricable from the body (Hothersall, 2004). In this view, the mind is unable to be a whole person without the body and vice-versa. These contradictory ancient responses to the mind body problem were held to be absolute fact during the mediaeval period (Hothersall, 2004). Scientific progress stalled during this era due to this universal acceptance. Little empirical investigation took place. However, despite their limiting influence, Aristotle’s response to the mind body problem and following theories of mind, can be seen as an influential root of the discipline of psychology (Hothersall, 2004). From his materialist perspective, Aristotle argued that the study of the mind (psychology) should be considered to be a physical science (Carrier, 1995). His work in this new science focused on investigating concepts and processes that are still major subjects for investigation in modern psychology, such as memory and emotion (Carrier, 1995).
