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
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Skepticism about other minds is false

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 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

    Reasons Against

    2 perspectives
    Reason against 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 against 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

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

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