Single Idea 3440

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / E. Mind as Physical / 5. Causal Argument]

Full Idea

If reductionism goes, so does the intelligibility of mental causation.

Gist of Idea

Without reductionism, mental causation is baffling

Source

Jaegwon Kim (Philosophy of Mind [1996], p.237)

Book Reference

Kim,Jaegwon: 'Philosophy of Mind' [Westview 1998], p.237


A Reaction

Quite so. Substance dualism turns mental causation into a miracle, but property dualism is really no better. If no laws connect brain and mind, you have no account. I don't see how 'reasons are causes' (Davidson) helps at all.