Skip to content
Carmelics
TopicsThinkersChangesContributorsLoading account…

    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

    Navigate

    • Topics
    • Search
    • Recent Changes
    • Contribute
    • How It Works
    • Glossary
    • Thinkers
    • Contributors
    • About
    • Statistics
    • Terms
    • Privacy

    Database

    Statements
    —
    Perspectives
    —
    Topics
    —

    Press ? for keyboard shortcuts

    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Skepticism about other minds is false — Carmelics
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Skepticism
    HistoryEditSee Inverse

    Skepticism about other minds is false

    Consciousness & MindSkepticism
    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    2 reasons for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Wittgenstein's private language argument shows that meaningful mental concepts require public criteria grounded in shared behavioral contexts.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If mental concepts require public criteria, then other minds capable of exhibiting those criteria must exist for my own mental concepts to be coherent.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.I demonstrably employ coherent mental concepts, so the precondition of other minds must be satisfied.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reason for 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.P.F. Strawson argues in 'Individuals' that ascribing psychological predicates to oneself is only possible within a framework that applies them to others.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.The very act of doubting other minds presupposes a conceptual scheme in which 'mind' is a type-concept applicable across persons, not a purely first-person notion.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.The existence of a single thinking subject entails the existence of other thinking subjects
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.I am a thinking subject
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Therefore other thinking subjects exist, contrary to the skeptic's doubt
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Sign in or register to share your perspective on this statement.

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.

    Topics

    SkepticismConsciousness & Mind

    Connections

    1 topic

    Personal Identity1 linked

    Related

    I am a thinking subjectI demonstrably employ coherent mental concepts, so the precondition of other min...If mental concepts require public criteria, then other minds capable of exhibiti...P.F. Strawson argues in 'Individuals' that ascribing psychological predicates to...
    +4 moreShow less
    The existence of a single thinking subject entails the existence of other thinki...The very act of doubting other minds presupposes a conceptual scheme in which 'm...Therefore other thinking subjects exist, contrary to the skeptic's doubtWittgenstein's private language argument shows that meaningful mental concepts r...

    Similar

    Our belief in other minds is not properly warranted, because it rests ...79%Our belief in other minds appears to be grounded solely on the observe...79%If the criteria for other-ascription are logically adequate, skepticis...78%If things are not ideas in human minds, they must be ideas in some oth...76%

    Source

    AI-extracted1/3 agreementValid
    SEP: transcendental-arguments
    View source passageHide passage
    Finally, we may turn to the work of Donald Davidson, who like Putnam bases his transcendental claim on a form of externalism, which links the content of our mental states to how we relate to our environment; but in his case, this idea is directed against skepticism concerning other minds. Thus, while the skeptic holds that the existence of such minds is doubtful, Davidson argues that it would not be possible for a creature like me to have thoughts unless I lived in a world with other creatures w
    Extraction notes

    Validity: Extracted via Max plan + API grounding/validity checks

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    3 (2 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit