Date of Graduation
8-2012
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy (PhD)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
Philosophy
Advisor/Mentor
Jack Lyons
Committee Member
Eric Funkhouser
Second Committee Member
Thomas Senor
Keywords
Philosophy, religion and theology, Identity theory, Multiple realization, Neural plasticity
Abstract
A classic argument in the philosophy of mind is that the identity theory is false because mental state types are multiply realized in brain state types. In this dissertation I provide a detailed elaboration of the argument and a defense of it against a few of its prominent contemporary critics. Finally I offer empirical evidence from inter-species differences in humans and monkeys, and also from a case of extensive neural plasticity, which shows that mental state types are multiply realized in brain state types.
Citation
Barrett, D. (2012). Defending the Multiple Realization Argument against the Identity Theory. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/459