What is the mind-body problem?

The mind-body problem is a discussion of the relationship between the mind and the body. The debate raises questions on whether the mind and the body are separate entities or if one is a subset of the other. One of the primary concerns is how something that is intangible can control a physical structure such as the body (“Philosophy of Mind - The Basics of Philosophy”). While a definite solution to this problem does not exist, many solutions have been proposed throughout history. 

 

A Brief History

One of the earliest proposed solutions to this issue came from Buddha in the years of 400 B.C.E, who claimed that the mind and body are interdependent, but separate (Kasturirangan). Also in the east around 650 B.C.E, distinctions were made between the mind, purusha, and physical substance, prakti, in Hindu Samkhya philosophy. In the western world, the issue was first discussed by Plato and Aristotle (“Philosophy of Mind”). Both proposed that the body and mind are separate, with Aristotle making the distinction between what he called “matter” and “form”. The modern idea of this issue was solidified and most explicitly analyzed by René Descartes in the 1600s. Descartes argued that the pineal gland in the brain was the “principal seat of the rational soul”, the factor that connected the mind and the body (Lokhorst). Most views on the mind-body problem fall under the two broad positions of dualism and monism. 

 

Dualism

Dualism is a specific type of pluralism (more than one type of substance exists). According to pluralists, there is no single solution to the mind-body problem. Dualists believe the solution is the existence of two distinct substances: physical and mental. They appeal to the ordinary person with their belief that it is rational to think that the physical world and mental properties such as consciousness and the soul exist entirely separately. They support this argument by claiming that physical things are concrete, tangible, and observable, while mental qualities are subjective to the person. The concept of qualia states that one individual can never truly understand how another individual perceives the same object. Dualists insist that properties such as qualia cannot be physical, thus the mind and body are separate. The most prominent dualist view is presented by Rene Descartes and is known as substance/cartesian dualism. The three main types of dualism are:

1. Substance/Cartesian Dualism: The mind is an intangible substance that exists outside the physical world.

2. Property Dualism: Mental phenomena are an emergent property of the brain, however, they are ontologically distinct.

3. Predicate Dualism: The world cannot be fully understood by solely examining physical predicates. Other predicates such as mental and physiological ones are necessary to do so (Robinson).

 

Monism

The view directly opposing dualists is held by monists. One of the first to introduce the monist view of the mind-body problem to the western world was Greek philosopher Parmenides. Monists hold the view that only one type of substance exists (“Philosophy of Mind”). In other words, the mind and body are not separate entities. There are three main types of monism, each with its own branches of thought on the issue:

1. Physicalism: Only physical substances exist in the world. This is the most prevalent form of monism in Western philosophy.

   1. Reductive Physicalism: All mental phenomena will ultimately be explained scientifically.

   2. Non-Reductive Physicalism: While the properties of the mind depend on the physical capabilities of the brain, it is not reducible to what occurs physically.

2. Idealism: In this view, the one substance that exists is the one related to the mind. Things that are observed physically are essentially workings created by the mind. In this view, the mind-body would not even exist.

3. Neutral monism: There exists a neutral entity that combines both physical and mental properties so that neither distinctly exists on its own (“Philosophy of Mind”; “Philosophy of Mind - The Basics of Philosophy”).

 

Perspectives of Neuroscientists

Neuroscientists hold the view of monists, specifically supporting reductive physicalism. Biology and neuroscience are grounded in studying physical processes, thus it is only natural for neuroscientists to propose that human anatomy provides the framework for mental activities to take place. With advancements in neuroimaging technologies, countless mental processes have already been explained through biological processes and more are in the works. For instance, cognitive neuroscience attempts to find a link between mental and neural processes, while neuropsychology examines how anatomical components of the brain influence human behavior and cognitive function (“Philosophy of Mind”). Moreover, according to biologist and neuroscientist Francis Crick, recent advances have also led to the belief that the vast neural networks present in the brain are responsible for an individual’s sense of identity and their free will. More recently, scientists in Britain are speaking of using magnetic resonance imaginings of the prefrontal cortex to possibly explain how anatomical structures in the brain can form the basis for the soul (Dolan).

 

Perspectives of Computer Scientists

The view held by computer scientists is most in line with that of dualists and presents a contemporary solution to the mind-body problem. The solution of computer scientists involves creating an analogy between a machine and a human. Artificial intelligence or software is the mind, while the physical machine or hardware is the body (Mcleod). The two are distinct entities, but function together. Ideas presented by Alan Turing and the discussion of a machine’s ability to think, as well as the possibility of creating a conscious humanoid can be helpful in understanding the interconnection of the human mind and body (“Philosophy of Mind”). 

 

Importance of the Mind-Body Problem

The mind-body problem is an ongoing debate that will likely never have one absolute solution, yet it remains relevant due to its impact on other philosophical subject matters such as human emotion, memory, and awareness. It especially affects discussions on the concept of self and free will. Self-concept is greatly influenced by the relationship between the mind and the body as it raises questions on what humans identify as a “self”. In the free will debate, the interconnection between the deterministic nature of the human body and a human’s ability to make free decisions are directly related to the role that mental properties play in the physical body (“Philosophy of Mind”). Therefore, the mind-body problem is an essential issue to keep in mind when discussing other philosophical matters