Carr introduces the argument for neurological flexibility with the tangible effects noted by Nietzsche, where the use of the mechanical typewriter changed Nietzsche's writing style and choice of words. Following Nietzsche, Carr discusses the conceptualization of neurological flexibility through the examples of Freud, J.Z. Young, and William James. Freud, J.Z. Young, and William James, each theorized a brain which could be changed, in time periods when such theories were absurd. Carr then writes on minor stories where adaptations occur physically with Bernstein, and neurologically in musicians. Lastly, Carr writes on various scientific experiences, from nerve adaptations, to brain matter transformations, all detailing changes within the brain or nervous system as a result of the environment. After the chapter, Carr digresses and explicitly states his view of how our brains are constantly changing based on our actions, surroundings, and thoughts without regards to whether or not we approve or know of the changes occurring.…
Descartes argues the mind is seperate from the physical body. With advances in nueroscience and the contious brain injuries gives strong evidence in supporting materialism. Defining what Cartesian dualists mean by the brain, mind, body and soul, an argument by Cartesians dualists may be reached. Responding to evidence confronting brain injuries from claims that the brain is only ‘an instrument of the soul’. Concluding there is a simultaneous support for materialism resulting from neuroscience and the Cartesian dualism argument, may be wrong.…
Rene Descartes was a brilliant thinker, philosopher, scientist, physiologist, and early psychologist whose theory of mind-body connection has become an integral part of modern medicine (Goodwin, 2008). His dualist view, asserted the mind was ethereal and autonomous in relation to the physical and strictly material body, and to account for their interaction, he proposed the pineal gland was where the intersection of the two transpired (Goodwin, 2008). He theorized the mechanistic, reflexive nature of certain human behaviors, although his one caveat was that reasoning and thoughts were unique properties of the human soul (Wickens, 2005). Descartes 's work laid some of the fundamental parameters for modern thought in psychology, encouraged further research on the localization of brain function, and promoted further experimental research of the nervous system (Goodwin, 2008).…
For instance, the idea of supervenience can give us an account in terms of relations or dependence, and could be of use as another argument to support a physicalist view. Davidson (1970/202) maintains that: “…mental characteristics are in some sense dependent, or supervenient, on physical characteristics” (p. 119). He makes the significant remark that “Dependence or supervenience of this kind does not entail reducibility” (Davidson, 1970/2002, p.119). However, reduction seems to be is one of the keys points that define physicalism, for example, Papineau (1993) maintains that “physicalism requires reductionism” (p. 2). Nonetheless, so, if the main criterion for physicality is reducibility, how can it be that the mental, although physical, cannot be reduced to physics? If a mental event is identical with a brain event, then reduction could be a valid methodological approach: for instance Place (1956) or Smart (1959) argue that consciousness are process of the brain. However, Putnam (1967), Davidson (1970) and Fodor (1974) present strong arguments against such view. The next section will further discuss the problems of reductionism that encourage non-reductive…
Andy Goldsworthy - Philosophy. (n.d.). University of Cincinnati, UC Blue Ash. Retrieved May 1, 2012, from http://www.ucblueash.edu/artcomm/web/w2005_2006/maria_Goldsworthy/philosophy.html…
Although he does not direct the argument considered in this paper against any one philosopher or school of thought, in the Principles of Philosophy he presents his understanding of substance as antithetical to that of the Scholastics, who believed that substance applied univocally to God and creatures. As his understanding of substance is essential to this argument, the difference is reflected throughout it as well. While for Scholastic thinkers the human being was essentially a hylomorphic substance, Descartes posits that the mind and body thought to make up a human being are in fact distinct substances, and the human essence is tied more closely with the mind…
In particular it will here be argued that functionalism can be reconciled with some form of ‘identity theory’ by following some ideas proposed by Lewis(1978) and Armstrong(1981). Furthermore, it will here be argued that as functionalism supports the multiple realizability view, it also supports a robust form of non-reductive physicalism. This non-reductive physicalism position is complemented by Donald Davidson’s views on the subject.…
Over the detritus of centuries, mental illnesses (such as anxiety, depression and personality disorder) have been a major contentious topic, especially in the medieval times in which religion centered, cultural and traditional influenced people deemed these exhibiting symptoms of psychopathology as demonic possessions (Davey, 2011). It was not until the late 18th and 19th century when its rival, medical science, addressed the mental illnesses fully. It was then when S. Weir Mitchell's treatment of epilepsy and emotional liability with lithium bromide gave rise to medical solutions to mental health problems. His famous treatment aided in the transition of medical treatment from restraints in asylums to m (Davey, 2011)edicine pills and later on to psychological therapies (Schou, 1992). This essay will focus on psychoanalysis and cognitive therapies by first explaining the main principles and then followed by a detailed comparison in between the two. The latter would include both advantages and drawbacks of these methods. Lastly this essay would include an evaluation of the argument shortly followed by a conclusion.…
The relation between body and mind is the source of disputation of dualism and monism among philosophers. The supporters of dualism believe that the body and mind are separate and opposite. Also, the body is…
The funalmental belief underlying the whole system appears to be that the human body is ugly and that its natural tendency is to debility and disease. Incarcerated in such a body, mn's only hope is to avert these characteristics through the use of the powerful influences of ritual and ceremony. (Miner 471)…
Abnormal behaviour was once thought to be caused by supernatural possession; this demonological model of abnormality was especially popular in the Middle Ages. It was not until the 18th century that psychologists began to argue that this behaviour should be treated as an illness and medical techniques could be used to treat it; and so emerged the medical model of abnormality. (Gross & McIlveen, 1996)1 The medical model of abnormal psychology treats mental disorders in the same way as a physical illness. Practitioners of this model believe mental illness to have a physical cause, therefore they treat mental disorders with somatic intervention such as medication, electroconvulsive therapy or in extreme cases, psychosurgery. It is largely believed that biological events have behavioural consequences and behavioural events have biological consequences. (Wickens, 2005)2…
The model opposes the medical model in that whereas the medical model is objective, the sociological model is subjective. Literature in the text gives several examples that show how subjectively a person's behavior is construed or misconstrued in the standard setup. It, however, recognizes the fact that people have different opinions regarding the particular actions or behavior. One example that comes out clearly is that when a woman claims to have talked to Jesus, she may be considered by a section as a saint whereas others may see her as a mentally ill man. The incident shows how the sociological model of mental illness tries to build up its case in the bid to define mental…
My initial reaction when our instructor, Kate Scarbrough, began to tell us our topics for the research paper was fear. As the other topics were being assigned: taxes, global warming, and state lotteries issues, I was led to anticipate the worst topic would be assigned to me. Finally, Scarbrough stated I was researching the censorship in schools and surprisingly, I was satisfied. Our school, Seaman High School, has had numerous events in the past couple years involving this issue: newspaper articles, posters around the school, and even interviews on SVTV, Seaman Vikings Television, over their opinion on the topic. This brought to my attention the amount of books that are banned from the schools with no…
Jane Evans was spending a week at the Crown Point Ward girls camp. She and her friends were laughing and enjoying the crisp night air. They giggled and talked of crushes on boys and gossiped all night about the notorious girls at school. But the fun stopped when a rat bit one of the girls. Screaming, squirming and frightened, they worried and stayed awake for the remainder of the night. Unable to sleep, they decided to go indoors, to avoid another possiable attack. A rationalist would argue that this is a ridiculous reaction to a rat bite, however as a person with an irrational perspective, I plead the contrary and throughtout this essay, will demonstrate why. Through a rationalistic perspecive we observe the mind as active, the emotions passive, and the notion that no material thing can cause an nonmaterial idea; however from the viewpoint of irrationality I will prove that: 1) Emotion is in fact not passive and 2) Intelligence can be created materially.…
The ‘body without organs’ has been subjected to many different literary interpretations as its meaning and form throughout the text is deliberately vague, to contrast with the structured repression of capitalist society. It usually refers to the deeper reality underlying some well-formed whole constructed from fully functioning parts. However, Deleuze and Guattari do essentially emphasise the body without organs as the ideal state for an individual – both physically and mentally –, and ultimately the form that they should aspire to.…