What are some of the problems with this solution to the mind-body problem?
Tuesday, December 13th, 2011Question by David: What are some of the problems with this solution to the mind-body problem?
Most people tend to lead towards materialism or dualism as I understand it. Obviously dualism can’t be fully explained (a non physical matter exerting influence on a physical matter) and materialism doesn’t do well for those hoping for an afterlife. What if you were instead to view the brain as a computer tower or the hard drive? The actual brain would be the hardware, the mind would be the software or operating system. An operating system obviously consists of code and data, which cannot be held or seen such as a rock on the ground. Obviously I’m talking about the physical matter that data really is, not a C.D. or memory stick.
Anyways, the mind would be our own Windows 7. It would exist within the brain, telling the brain what it should do physically (as far as sending signals to your arm to get it to move, for example). However, it wouldn’t BE the brain. And, just like data can be transferred, your mind could leave the brain itself. This would lend itself to a possibility of life after death, with the mind still being a physical thing. In a sense, you would almost be joining the afterlife via a wireless file transfer 
This could also explain the possibility of reincarnation (for those that believe in such a thing).
I know this has had to have been proposed before, as I thought of it almost immediately as we went over the basics of the mind body problem in philosophy class. We’re also only halfway through the course, but we seem to have left this particular topic for now. So forgive me if I sound ignorant of new theories (or this one). However, I can’t seem to find a problem with it myself, though admittedly a beginner in philosophy. Can anyone else tell me how this theory has faired when weighed with modern philosophers?
Barbie: you do realize the point of throwing in how the theory dealt with the after life is because fans of dualism reject materialism due to the fact that it doesn’t have room for one, right? Seriously, no one cares what your religious or non religious beliefs are. It’s about the theory being plausible.
Aaron: yes I remember the Chineese room arguement. However, that was to show that just because something appears to do something, doesn’t mean that that is the case. Such was the example of the people in the room responding in Chineese, though they knew not what it meant. I would believe more along the lines of the identity thesis than functionalism. While I draw a parallel between the mind and the OS, I don’t mean that they are identical. I simply use that example to explain how the mind can be physical, as can the brain, and be two seperate entities, as well as how the mind can survive the death of the body. However, more elaborating and fine tuning would be desired, agreed. I’ll have to do this.
Aaron: yes I remember the Chineese room arguement. However, that was to show that just because something appears to do something, doesn’t mean that that is the case. Such was the example of the people in the room responding in Chineese, though they knew not what it meant. I would believe more along the lines of the identity thesis than functionalism. While I draw a parallel between the mind and the OS, I don’t mean that they are identical. I simply use that example to explain how the mind can be physical, as can the brain, and be two seperate entities, as well as how the mind can survive the death of the body. However, more elaborating and fine tuning would be desired, agreed. I’ll have to do this.
Best answer:
Answer by Vintage Barbie
What makes you think there is an afterlife?
Give your answer to this question below!
