Single Idea 7864

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 3. Mental Causation]

Full Idea

Maybe physical effects of mental causes are always overdetermined by distinct causes (the 'belt and braces' view). Defenders say the two are still counterfactually dependent - but that would raise the question of why, if they are ontologically distinct.

Gist of Idea

Maybe mind and body do overdetermine acts, but are linked (for some reason)

Source

David Papineau (Thinking about Consciousness [2002], 1.5)

Book Reference

Papineau,David: 'Thinking about Consciousness' [OUP 2004], p.27


A Reaction

[He cites D.H. Mellor as defending 'belt and braces'] This strikes me as the sort of theory that arises from desperation: traditional dualism won't work, but we MUST keep mind separate, so that we can have free will, and save morality. All very confused!