phil paper

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Pensacola State College *

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2010

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Philosophy

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Jan 9, 2024

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Question One – Views on the Self The first philosopher I will be talking about that talked about the self was John Locke, which is a very influential philosopher, he showed a different perspective on the self. Locke's theory of the self is based on empiricism and the idea that personal identity comes from the ongoing sequence of consciousness, as he stated, "personal identity is founded on consciousness" (Solomon, 12th ed., 56). He disagreed that the self is a psychological continuity of memory, a series of connected experiences. Essentially, our identity is shaped by our memories. In contrast, David Hume embraced an empiricist point of view and questioned the idea of a lasting and substantial self. He suggested that the self is a collection of perceptions and experiences, not having any underlying substance or identity, as stated in the textbook., "Hume is skeptical about the self as a continuing, underlying thing" (Solomon, 12th ed., 55). René Descartes, which is a very important philospher in the development of modern philosophy, advocated for a dualistic conception of the self, saying that "the mind is indivisible and unextended, while the body is divisible and extended" (Solomon, 12th ed., 55). Descartes believed that the self consists of two distinct substances: the thinking mind which is “res cogitansand”and the extended body “res extensa”. According to him, these two substances interacted at the pineal gland but were completely different in nature. Jean-Paul Sartre, another extremely important philosopher, , introduced a different perspective on the self. Sartre rejected determinism and argued that human beings are condemned to be free, stating, "man is condemned to be free" (Solomon, 12th ed., 127). He believed that we are radically free to choose our actions, and our choices define our essence. For Sartre, freedom comes with the burden of responsibility, as we must take full ownership of our choices. Immanuel Kant introduced a new look on these perspectives, saying that the self is not just a collection of experiences but an autonomous rational agent. As the video lecture said, Kant argued that "we have this notion of a self as a unified agent that is causally responsible for our actions" (Video Lecture 8 - Reality Materialism 3:14). Kant's perspective shows the complexity of human consciousness, giving a balance between Descartes' dualism, Locke's psychological continuity, and Hume's empiricism. It shows the existence of a transcendental ego while showing the role of empirical experiences in shaping our self-identity. In my opinion, Immanuel Kant provides the best explanation for the self. Kant's perspective shows the complexity of human consciousness, giving a balance between Descartes' dualism, Locke's psychological continuity, and Hume's empiricism. It recognizes the existence of a transcendental ego while acknowledging the role of empirical experiences in shaping our self- identity. Word Count: 449 Question Two – Mind-Body Dualism and Nondualism

Mind-body dualism says that the mind and body are distinct entities, with the mind being non-physical and the body physical. René Descartes said that "mind and body are really distinct” (Solomon, 12th ed., 75), saying that mental phenomena exist independently of the physical body. This concept comes from Cartesian dualism. On the other hand, nondualism says that the mind and body are inseparable and interconnected. According to the materialist perspective, “everything that exists is physical, including the mind and mental states” (Allen, Video Lecture 8 - Reality Materialism 4:22). Mental states come about from how the brain's physical processes work together. I do not agree with mind-body dualism. The evidence from neuroscience and psychology strongly supports the idea that mental phenomena are closely related with physical processes in the brain. By studying brain injuries, scientists can figure out which parts of the brain are linked to different mental functions, showing how closely the mind and body are connected. Nondualism, which is the materialist view, gives the best explanation of the mind- body relationship.The materialist view is based on real-world evidence and fits with what science has discovered. It recognizes the close link between the mind and the brain, giving us a good grasp of how human consciousness and mental states work. In the case of the Florida Seminole Nation and the Smithsonian Institution, adopting a materialist perspective would say that the cultural aspects, emotions, and thoughts of the Seminole people are linked with the physical processes in their brains. To preserve and understand their culture, it's essential to study both the visible aspects and the inner brain processes. This shows the importance of scientific studies in this case. Word Count: 278 Question Three – The Problem of Free Will The problem of free will is about the conflict between determinism and human choice. Determinism shows that every event or state, including every human decision and action, is the outcome of events in accordance with causal necessity (Solomon, 12th ed., 161). In this view, our choices are already decided by factors beyond our control. Three major views on free will are: libertarianism, compatibilism, and hard determinism. Libertarianism says that humans have genuine free will and can act independently of deterministic or external influences. Compatibilism says that even if things are determined, we can still have free will if our actions match what we want and feel inside. Hard determinism, in contrast, denies the existence of free will, saying that all actions are determined and humans are not morally responsible for their choices (Allen, Video Lecture 17 - Freedom responability 7:45). I agree mostly with compatibilism, which allows for moral responsibility while acknowledging the deterministic nature of the universe. This perspective goes with our understanding of human behavior, acknowledging the influence of both internal motivations and external factors. Compatibilism shows that even though our choices are determined, they still come from our desires and intentions. In the case of the accused murderer discussed in this class so far, from a compatibilist

standpoint, even if the murderer's actions were influenced by many factors, they can still be held morally responsible if their deeds reflect their inner motives and desires. This perspective lets us take a more detailed look at moral responsibility, recognizing how intricate human decisions are while still making people have a choice for what they choose. Word Count: 266 Word cited “Freedom Responsibility - Introduction and Hard Determinism.” YouTube , YouTube, 16 May 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nyjHmzbftQ&feature=youtu.be. “Reality 1 of 2 - Materialism.” YouTube , YouTube, 12 May 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPwvZht5918. Solomon, Robert C., Kathleen M. Higgins, and Clancy Martin, eds., Introducing Philosophy: A Text with Integrated Readings , 12th ed., Oxford University Press, 2021.

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