Scientific Evidence And Dualism: Article Analysis

There are several key topics that were discussed in this paper. One of the topics is scientific evidence and its impact on the idea of dualism. This topic is focused on a lot, because there is supposedly scientific evidence that discounts the concept of dualism. However, Evans does not necessarily agree with this idea. The second major topic that is discussed in this article is the concept of non-reductive materialism and its relation to dualism.
Scientific Evidence and Dualism According to the article by Evans, there are supposable scientific findings that discount the idea of dualism. The main scientific evidence being used to discount dualism is the research that has show that various types of mental functions are reliant on localized brain activity. There have been several studies to that show localized brain activity, many of which the patient suffered a brain injury and neuropsychologist were able to determine which areas of the brain contribute to specific mental functions. Another type of study done was split-brain studies that show that the two hemispheres of the brain can develop two distinct consciousnesses when the corpus callosum connecting the two hemispheres is severed. The research shows that the two hemispheres are not even aware of what the other hemisphere is doing. All of this research is used to “prove monism” because it shows that the mind cannot be separate …show more content…
First a dualist should not be afraid to accept the claim that person and body form a unity. Secondly they can learn how to think about mind-body interaction. Finally, “think of both person and body as having certain properties by virtue of the natural body of the soul and body” (Evans, p340). However, Evans believes that a dualist should not agree with everything that a non-materialist claims and