Chalmers Argues for a Theory of Mind Known as "Property

question 13

True/False

Chalmers argues for a theory of mind known as "property dualism" (also "nonreductive materialism" and "naturalistic dualism"). In this view, mental states, or properties, are distinct from physical properties, and arise from the physical properties without being reducible to, or identical to, them (and without being some kind of Cartesian substance). Philosophers like to say that this relationship between the mental and physical is one of supervenience-that is, mental properties supervene on the physical ones. This means that something possesses a mental property in virtue of having a physical property. The mental property depends on the physical one, arises from it, but is not identical to it. If true, reductive materialism must be false. "This failure of materialism," says Chalmers, "leads to a kind of dualism: there are both physical and nonphysical features of the world." Mental properties are features of the world that are "over and above the physical features of the world."
-Chalmers thinks that consciousness is a separate substance from the physical.

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Definitions:

Personal Unconscious

The reservoir of material that was once conscious but has been forgotten or suppressed. Personal-document technique.

Social Factors

The aspects of society that influence an individual's life choices, behaviors, and well-being, including family, culture, education, and economic conditions.

Human Nature

The intrinsic characteristics, behaviors, and motivations that are considered inherent in all human beings.

Unconscious

A part of the mind that contains thoughts, memories, and desires not directly accessible to awareness but that can influence behavior.