Combining Texts

Ideas for 'On Propositions: What they are,and Meaning', 'Universals' and 'Letters to Bentley'

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2 ideas

17. Mind and Body / B. Behaviourism / 4. Behaviourism Critique
If we object to all data which is 'introspective' we will cease to believe in toothaches [Russell]
     Full Idea: If privacy is the main objection to introspective data, we shall have to include among such data all sensations; a toothache, for example, is essentially private; a dentist may see the bad condition of your tooth, but does not feel your ache.
     From: Bertrand Russell (On Propositions: What they are, and Meaning [1919], §II)
     A reaction: Russell was perhaps the first to see why eliminative behaviourism is a non-starter as a theory of mind. Mental states are clearly a cause of behaviour, so they can't be the same thing. We might 'eliminate' mental states by reducing them, though.
17. Mind and Body / D. Property Dualism / 3. Property Dualism
There are distinct sets of psychological and physical causal laws [Russell]
     Full Idea: There do seem to be psychological and physical causal laws which are distinct from each other.
     From: Bertrand Russell (On Propositions: What they are, and Meaning [1919], §II)
     A reaction: This sounds like the essence of 'property dualism'. Reductive physicalists (like myself) say there is no distinction. Davidson, usually considered a property dualist, claims there are no psycho-physical laws. Russell notes that reduction may be possible.