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LANGARA COLLEGE
Philosophy 1101: Introduction to Philosophy
Answers to Practice Quiz #3
1. (i) Explain the difference between substance dualism and property dualism.
Substance dualism says that the mind and brain are separate things. Property
dualism says that the mind and brain are the same thing, yet the brain has nonphysical mental properties, in addition to its physical properties.
(ii) Explain why even property dualism sets a limit to the extent that neuroscience will
ever understand the mind.
Neuroscience can only understand the physical properties of the brain. The nonphysical aspects cannot be studied scientifically.
2. (i) What is the interaction problem for Cartesian dualism?
Cartesian dualism says the mind and body are radically different, one purely
physical and the other not physical at all. So how could they interact?
(ii) What is Anne Conway’s response to the interaction problem?
Conway denied that the body was purely physical. She thought it somewhat
spiritual, suffused with “vital forces”, more sublime than a mere mechanism. In
this way, its interaction with the mind is less problematic.
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3. (i) Summarise Churchland’s evolutionary history argument against dualism.
We know the origin of the mind. It evolved, from a primitive cell, by a purely
natural process (primarily natural selection, choosing between accidental
variations). Now, since the mind arose from a purely physical process, it follows
that the mind itself is purely physical.
(ii) Is this argument directed against all forms of dualism, or only certain kinds?
This argument threatens all kinds of dualism.
4. (i) Summarise the principle known as “Ockham’s Razor”
Among adequate explanations (i.e. those that predict the effect being explained)
one should prefer simpler explanations, employing fewer causes.
(ii) Summarise Churchland’s argument against dualism, that is based on Ockham’s
Razor.
Right now we can explain many things about the mind, in terms of neuroscience.
Dualism explains nothing. So positing non-physical properties is superfluous,
and Ockham’s Razor advises us to eliminate them.
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