more from A.J. Ayer

Single Idea 5330

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 4. Other Minds / c. Knowing other minds]

Full Idea

The acceptance of physicalism undercuts the other minds problem by equating experiences with events in the brain, which are publicly observable.

Gist of Idea

Physicalism undercuts the other mind problem, by equating experience with 'public' brain events

Source

A.J. Ayer (The Central Questions of Philosophy [1973], §VI.E)

Book Reference

Ayer,A.J.: 'The Central Questions of Philosophy' [Penguin 1976], p.132


A Reaction

It strikes me that if we could actually observe the operations of one another's brains, a great many of the problems of philosophy would never have appeared in the first place. Imagine a transparent skull and brain, with coloured waves moving through it.