Fundamental Philosophical Issues
Lecture Outline
I. Introduction II. Mind-Body relationship III.Determinism vs indeterminism IV. Value-free science V. Mental health and morality VI. Autonomy vs conformity VII.Conclusions
-------------------------------------------
I. Introduction: Adherents to the different theoretical orientations take sides on numerous philosophical issues concerning the nature of humanity. These issues lie at the heart of some theoretical controversies and the conflicts between professionals. These controversies and conflicts reflect implicit, unexamined, gut-felt metaphysical beliefs, in addition to scientific knowledge. To understand the various theoretical paradigms and why there are different paradigms, we must understand these beliefs. As we progress in this course, these issues will arise again and again in our discussions. By way of introduction, we will make them explicit now. (This discussion is based in part on Weckowicz, 1984)
II. Mind - Body Relationship
A. Overview: Philosophy of Mind
Numerous positions have historically been held and perhaps just as many positions are currently held, regarding the relationship of the mind to the body. These include dualism, materialism, identity theory, and others (Churchland, 1984).
1. Dualism (eg: Descartes): The mental and the physical are two distinct realities, composed of fundamentally different "stuffs" - irreducibility. The real you is not your physical/material body, but a nonspatial, ghostly, perhaps spiritual thinking substance: "mind stuff" (Churchland, 1984).