Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Bryan van Norden, Ludwig Wittgenstein and Anon (Ecc)

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3 ideas

15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 4. Other Minds / c. Knowing other minds
I don't have the opinion that people have minds; I just treat them as such [Wittgenstein]
     Full Idea: My attitude towards him is an attitude towards a soul. I am not of the 'opinion' that he has a soul.
     From: Ludwig Wittgenstein (Philosophical Investigations [1952], II.iv)
     A reaction: This seems to be precisely Dennett's 'intentional stance', where we conjure up minds in things like chess-playing computers, irrespective of whether we believe they are conscious.
15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 4. Other Minds / d. Other minds by analogy
It is irresponsible to generalise from my own case of pain to other people's [Wittgenstein]
     Full Idea: If I say of myself that it is only from my own case that I know what the word 'pain' means - must I not say the same of other people too? And how can I generalise from the one case so irresponsibly?
     From: Ludwig Wittgenstein (Philosophical Investigations [1952], §293)
     A reaction: This is the best known objection to Mill's Argument from Analogy for other minds. It appears to be induction from a single instance. The better approach seems to be ABduction (best explanation), in which my own case is just some evidence.
To imagine another's pain by my own, I must imagine a pain I don't feel, by one I do feel [Wittgenstein]
     Full Idea: If one has to imagine someone else's pain on the model of one's own, this is none too easy a thing to do: for I have to imagine pain which I do not feel on the model of pain which I do not feel.
     From: Ludwig Wittgenstein (Philosophical Investigations [1952], §302)
     A reaction: I just don't feel a deep problem here. Wittgenstein didn't know about mirror neurons, which trigger in me a reaction like the one causing your behaviour.