The mindbody problem is a false dilemma from "summary" of The Concept of Mind by Gilbert Ryle
The traditional conception of the mindbody problem as a genuine dilemma is misguided. This false dilemma arises from a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of mental processes and their relationship to the physical world. The mistake lies in assuming that mental events are of the same order as physical events, and that they must therefore be subject to the same laws and principles. This assumption leads to the conclusion that the mind and body are distinct substances, each governed by its own set of rules.
In reality, however, mental processes are not on the same level as physical processes. They are not events that occur alongside physical events, but rather ways of describing and understanding those events. Mental concepts are not independent entities that exist in a separate realm from the physical world; they are simply ways of talking about the behavior and experiences of living beings. This means that there is no need to posit a separate entity, the mind, to explain the workings of the human organism.
By recognizing the true nature of mental processes, we can see that the mindbody problem is not a genuine dilemma, but a conceptual confusion. The idea of an immaterial mind that interacts with the physical body is based on a false analogy between mental and physical events. It is an attempt to explain mental phenomena in terms of a separate substance, when in fact they are better understood as aspects of the same underlying reality.
To overcome this false dilemma, we must abandon the dualistic view of the mind and body as distinct substances. Instead, we should see mental processes as part of the larger system of physical events that make up the natural world. By understanding the mind as a set of capacities and dispositions that are inherent in living organisms, we can see that there is no need to posit a separate realm of mental entities.
In summary, the mindbody problem is a false dilemma that arises from a misunderstanding of the nature of mental processes. By recognizing that mental events are not on the same level as physical events, we can see that there is no need to posit a separate entity, the mind, to explain human behavior and experience. The key to resolving this false dilemma lies in recognizing the true nature of mental processes and their relationship to the physical world.
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