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The mind-body problem from a medical perspective
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics
|January 1, 1986
Summary
This study examines classical mind-body theories through a contemporary lens. Interactionism and neural identity emerge as the most viable theories for natural scientists, with evidence for and against each discussed.
Area of Science:
- Philosophy of Mind
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Classical philosophical approaches to the mind-body problem are reviewed.
- Contemporary scientific theories are used to evaluate these classical ideas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically assess various mind-body theories.
- To identify theories compatible with natural science and current research.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical analysis of classical mind-body theories.
- Evaluation of theories based on contemporary scientific evidence.
Main Results:
- Parallelism and panpsychism are deemed suspect for natural scientists.
- Epiphenomenalism, central-state materialism, and behaviorism are considered radical and unsupported.
- Interactionism and neural identity are identified as the most prevalent theories.
Conclusions:
- Interactionism and neural identity warrant further investigation.
- The study provides a framework for understanding the mind-body problem in contemporary science.