Philosophy of Mind

 

Assignment One Questions

 


 

Due:                  Wednesday, week 7

Words:             2500

Instructions:   Answer ONE of the following questions.

 


 
  1. What are the strongest arguments for dualism, and how strong are they? Note that there are several varieties of dualism; make sure that you explain which version you are discussing at each point. Does anything look like an insoluble problem for any version of dualism?
  1. Most modern philosophers of the Mind claim to be working on the assumption that Physicalism is true. There are however, difficulties in making precise what they mean by this. Explain these problems. Are there any insoluble problems for Physicalism as a philosophical position?
  1. Is the Zombie problem fatal to functionalism? In answering this make sure that you are clear on what you take functionalism to be (and note that there are several kinds,) and that you fully explain the Zombie problem itself.