Theories of Reality
Tuesday October 8, 2002
1st -Ancient (Presocratice) Philosophy 6th century B.C.
2nd –Medieval Philosophy
3rd - Modern Philosophy17th Century
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Descartes (day-KART) Theories
*One (Dualists) answer to mind body problem
-Cartesian interactions: Place in the brain where mind and body interact.
Ex: Pilot & Ship analogy shows how a pilot thinks of his ship (vessel) is not how a mind (soul) thinks of their body.
·The mind body connection is much more intimate,Myself = my mind and my soul

Dualism: Comprised of two categories
1.Mind/soul/spirit/consciousness/immaterial substance
2.Matter/body/material substance/physical things
*Opposite belief of Dualism is Materialism
· Des. Does’notot think animals have a soul-they are automata (machine like)
· Since mental and physical are distinct concepts, they denote different substances.
· Questions Des. Might ask: How much does the concept of justice weigh? / Is this table abstract or concrete?

-Mind- vs. -Body-
Immaterial Material
Has ideas abstract Either living
or concrete or non
Knowledge Has mass
Hopes Temperature
Doubts Density
Fears Extends into space

Do animals think and feel?
How do we know?
Are animals conscious?
1.Behavior similar to ourselves when:
-Hungry, affectionate, afraid, in pain,happy,Seek comfort, social behaviors, expectations, Make associations
2.Physiological Similarities esp. in higher
Mammals:
-Nervous system, brain, Perceptual equipment

>Des. Argues against animal consciousness:
-Lack ability to reason, Use of language,
Animals just operate on stimulus response
-[Church says no!] Didn’t actually say but was probably a factor

Side Note: There will be no packet only handouts