Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
What is the Mind-Body problem?
Position1 of 4›

Mind-Body Problem: Dualism

This position presents the dualist answer to the mind-body problem: that a person is made of two distinct parts, a physical body and a non-physical mind. It draws on the knowledge argument about qualia, first-person authority over one's experience, and the existence of free will.

Supporting arguments · 4

  1. The Knowledge Argument (Qualia)
    Not all experiences can be reduced to physical processes.
  2. Property Dualism
    Mental phenomena need physical phenomena to exist, but both are different entities.
  3. First Person Authority
    Mental states are intrisically knowable, but physical states require inference and experience.
  4. The existence of Free Will proves Mind-Body Dualism
    The fact we have freewill means we must not be bound by the laws of physics.