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    The identity theory (Place, Smart, Armstrong) holds that ... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→The mind is distinct from the body

    The identity theory (Place, Smart, Armstrong) holds that this systematic correlation is best explained by strict type or token identity, not mere correlation between distinct substances.

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    1 reason for
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    Reasons For

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    Reason for
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    • 1.Identity explanations are more parsimonious than positing two separate substances with perfect causal correlation.
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    • 2.Mental states reliably supervene on physical brain states; identity better explains this necessity than mere correlation.
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    • 3.Scientific reduction (chemistry to physics) succeeds through type identity, suggesting mental-physical identity follows the same pattern.
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    Reasons Against

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    Reason against
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    • 1.Mental properties like subjectivity and intentionality appear fundamentally different from physical properties in kind, not just instantiation.
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    • 2.Token identity claims face the problem that identical physical states produce varying mental states across different individuals and contexts.
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    • 3.Kripke's arguments show mental properties are contingently rather than necessarily linked to physical properties, undercutting strict identity.
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    Key Terms

    Distinct substances(as used in metaphysics)
    Completely separate and fundamentally different kinds of things that have nothing essentially in common with each other.
    Identity theory(Contrasted with dualism in philosophy of mind)
    The philosophical position that mental states are identical to brain states (mind-brain identity theory)
    Mere correlation(contrasted with actual causation in this statement)
    Two things happening together or in a pattern, but with no actual causal connection between them—they could be coincidental.
    Place, Smart, Armstrong(philosophy of mind - historical figures)
    Three influential philosophers (U.T. Place, J.J.C. Smart, and David Armstrong) who developed and defended identity theory in the mid-20th century.
    Systematic correlation(philosophy of mind)
    A consistent, regular pattern where one thing reliably goes together with another—for example, whenever you see lightning, thunder follows.
    Token identity(in philosophy of mind)
    The philosophical idea that specific individual instances of mental events (like your right-now feeling of pain) are identical to specific physical events in your brain, even if mental and physical properties seem different in general.
    type identity(Contrasted with token-token identity in the passage)
    A relation holding between mental kinds and neurophysiological kinds when every instance of a given mental state type corresponds to the same neurophysiological state type across all beings

    Connections

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    Consciousness & Mind1 linked

    Related

    Identity explanations are more parsimonious than positing two separate substance...Kripke's arguments show mental properties are contingently rather than necessari...Mental properties like subjectivity and intentionality appear fundamentally diff...Mental states reliably supervene on physical brain states; identity better expla...

    Details

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    Scientific reduction (chemistry to physics) succeeds through type identity, sugg...The mind is distinct from the bodyToken identity claims face the problem that identical physical states produce va...