Single Idea 2308

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / E. Mind as Physical / 7. Anti-Physicalism / a. Physicalism critique]

Full Idea

The two principle arguments which overthrew the mind-brain identity theory were the multiple realization argument of Hilary Putnam, and the anomalist argument of Davidson, which contained the seeds of functionalism and anomalous monism.

Gist of Idea

Identity theory was overthrown by multiple realisations and causal anomalies

Source

Jaegwon Kim (Mind in a Physical World [1998], §1 p.002)

Book Reference

Kim,Jaegwon: 'Mind in the Physical World' [MIT 2000], p.2


A Reaction

The first argument strikes me as significant and interesting, but Davidson seems weak. It makes the unsubstantiated claim that mind is outside the laws of physics, and irreducible.