Materialism

phenomena stimulated by our senses. One can never observe the human minds’ functionality without also observing the human brain operating as well. Because this correlational relationship is best illustrated by materialism (physicalism) in regards to the human mind, it is evident that materialisms’ outlook on the relationship between mind and body is true. Furthermore, the dualist explanation, specifically because it 's dualist, indicates mental phenomena as “existing over and above” their…

and unhappiness? Interestingly, it is not materialism which causes unhappiness directly, but that unhappiness and materialism are mutually reinforcing mechanisms. He notes that people who have experienced true deprivation are those who, later in life, are the most materialistic -- for example, those who went through the Great Depression often were materialistic in later life. He then goes on to describe the evidence that insecurity breeds materialism, and that pursuit of materialistic goals…

(Goldstein, Emergence as a Construct, 1999). Emergent materialism is a theory which dictates that the human mind is an “irreducible existent” (Massaro, 2010), John R. Searle presents emergent materialism as middle ground between materialism and dualism, the difference being that emergent materialism argues that consciousness is ontologically reducible in its own nature, but epistemologically irreducible for human understanding. Materialism, emergent materialism, and dualism all present…

functionalism as a truth and its dominance among current philosophers proves its undeniable popularity. But that does not have any effect on the validity of a functionalist’s ontology. As a result, the concept of eliminative materialism must be brought to attention. Before eliminative materialism is further discussed, however, please note the term “folk psychology” should be defined as the popular common thought among a certain people. An eliminative materialist would claim folk psychology to…

he had of his father dying in his arms after being stabbed by his son while gushing out hundred dollar bills. The father exclaims “Thank god—those Ben Franklins were / Clogging up my heart” in order to communicate to his son that his greed and materialism has lead him to an unfulfilled life and if the teacher takes the same road he too will lead an unfulfilling life. This dream of his father widens our perspective as we now have insight on three different generations rather than just the…

Maxine, the proprietress of the resort where the play takes place, is worldly and sexual, concerned primarily with the financial success of her business and her romantic endeavours; a clear representation of materialism. Maxine’s long-time husband Fred has just passed away, and she is lonely living without someone who belongs to her. No sooner has Maxine offered Shannon the opportunity to permanently live at the resort, Hannah arrives with her grandfather Nonno…

idealism, and materialism. Dualism is the notion that there are two fundamental states, extended and thinking substance and there are differing areas of this approach that propose their causal relationship or their independence from each other. Idealism focuses on the mind and soul aspect of dualism and explains bodily entities in mental terms rather than their dualistic interactions. Materialism, on the other hand, focuses on the opposite element of dualism and emphasizes bodies. Materialism…

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…

put forward the following supportive position. The brain and mind of human beings are different from each other. That the brain and mind have distinct roles in human beings. For the first counter argument, I will consider the physical aspect of materialism in regards to the mind and brain. As a response, I will reply, that the human mind and brain are separate, because human beings have free will. In the second opposing argument to dualism, I will present the idealist view that the human mind…

A) Gertler’s “In Defense of Mind- Body Dualism” In this essay, I will be defending Brie Gertler in her dualist stance on the mind – body problem. In the paper, Gertler argues that, “it is possible that pain occurs in a disembodied being.” She starts off talking about this argument by giving the example of stubbing ones toe. She then states that even someone who has had both of their feet amputated can still share this toe stubbing experience. She gives example to show a particular instance where…