Identity Theory
Austin Gaddie
Austin Drysh
Historical Background
E. G. Boring (1886-1968)- First proposed the Identity
Theory through his book The Physical Dimensions of
Consciousness.
Although introduced in the beginning of the 20th
century, it did not become popular until the mid 1900’s.
Three slightly different versions of the identity theory
however they all proclaim that mental states are
purely physical.
U. T Place- 1956
Feigl- 1957
J.J.C Smart- 1959
Introduction to the
Identity Theory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9qsWlScST0
0:40 – 1:36
Major Tenets
Mental states (sensations) are brain states.
Refutes the argument of Qualia (certain nonphysical
aspects of physical things) that evoke nonphysical
responses.
According to Feigl and Smart:
Sensations and brain processes are explanations of
two different things, however they are actually
reducible to the same physical thing.
“Morning Star” and “Evening Star” are two separate
descriptions of the same thing: Venus.
Major Tenets
According to U.T Place:
Mental states are made up of physical processes and
are therefore reducible to the physical realm.
Example: “Lightning” and “electrical discharge”
are not the same linguistically because we
observe them through different perceptions.
Lightning= physical. Electrical discharge=
scientific research. However they are identical
because one makes up the other.
Consciousness
What are the components or meaning of consciousness?
Consciousness is a process in the brain
It is inherently false to relate this statement to our
own personal descriptions of both mental processes
and brain processes, for they differ greatly.
Examples: (a) you can describe your mental sensations
without knowing anything about brain function (b)
statements regarding brain processes and
consciousness are verified in entirely different ways
(c) someone can feel pain yet nothing is happening in
their brain
Consciousness
However, the statement is not necessarily false
because these two different descriptions
represent the same process.
Comparable to the statement ‘lightning is a
motion of electrical charges.’ Both describe the
same occurrence, but in varied terms.
Consciousness
Counter: Any expression that is logically independent
of another expression that uniquely characterizes an
object must normally not be a characteristic of that
object.
Example: “Her hat is made of straw” rather than
“Red is a color”
U.T. Place argues that exceptions in this rule exist
in cases in which each expression can only be
proven at a separate time from the other.
Example: “A cloud is a mass of water droplets or
other particles in suspension.”
Mind Body Connection
What links the physical body and mental states?
Type Identity Theory:
Different TYPES are associated with different
mental states.
These TYPES are then directly correlated with
different neuropsychological reactions and
occurrences within the brain.
Mental state of pain = Physical firings of CFibers in the brain.
Mind Body Connection
What links the physical body and mental states?
Token Identity Theory:
Differs from that of Type Physicalism in that it refers
to specific mental instances (exact moments of joy,
pain, sorrow like stubbing your toe) being identified as
an instance of a mental state and a certain physical
state (C- Fiber expulsions).
Instead of the actual mental state of pain being a
neuropsychological reaction, individual instances of
pain are brain processes.
Mind Body Connection
Objection: Red is a color based upon our physical
perception, which is defined by lower frequency of
electromagnetic radiation. Say someone has a red
scar and they plunge 70ft underneath the surface of
the water, the red scar would appear to be a bluish
green color due to the lack of electromagnetic
radiation.
Can we really trust what we perceive? If our bodies
are composed strictly of material things, how can
one base their reality upon something bound to
change?
Mind Body Connection
If sensations are brain processes and the essence of
human nature is based upon the equality of mental
states and brain processes:
Our physical perception of physical stimuli (color)
would be in a constant state of flux.
How would we be able to trust our sensations (those
that govern our self being) if they are constantly
changing.
If brain processes and mental states are equal, then the
whole essence of our existence is constantly changing.
Essence of Human Nature
Hobbes’ Conservative Theory of Human Nature
Human beings act out of perceived self-interest
Hobbes gave money too a beggar and stated that the
reason for this action was because he was distressed at
seeing the beggar distressed, and therefore had to
relieve his won distress
Essence of Human Nature
Equality of ability to harm and desire to achieve
one’s goals leads to the instability of human
nature
The only reliable expectation of each human is
that he or she will follow their own inclinations
and interests
Concludes that this anarchy resultant from human
nature is in no one’s best interest, and therefore
government is established to restrict the actions
of everyone.
Identity of Human Nature
What is the identity of human nature?
Human identity= Because human nature is reduced
entirely to the physical realm, perception of physical
stimuli cannot contain supernatural aspects.
Qualia: subjective secondary qualities evoked from
certain conscious experiences.
Frank Jackson: What Mary Didn’t Know.
Identity of Human Nature
Counter: Identity Theorists and all branches of physicalism
have a hard time answering the question proposed by
Frank Jackson.
Whether or not a women released into the world after
having learned everything physical would experience
secondary reactions not able to be learned outside of
sensation (Qualia). – i.e. red makes you happy
Utilizing this argument, other branches of philosophical
beliefs proclaim the existence of Qualia, the immaterial
essence that connects sensations and brain processes.
Philosophers negate the identity theory by asking how
human identity can be defined without evaluating the
mental responses men have to stimuli in their environment?
Identity of Human Nature
Responds by saying that these certain secondary
emotions based upon mental events are not real
physical things in the brain - Smart.
Explain Qualia by saying that it is topic neutral.
Smart described Qualia in reference to “the average
electrician.”
The identity of human nature is purely reducible to
physical properties.
What do you perceive when
you look at a strawberry?
Freewill?
What does it mean to be free of predetermined?
Hobbes’ Conservative Theory of Human Nature
Earth is made up of only bodies in motion
Since there are only bodies in motion, free will is
illogical
Freewill?
Hobbes called the human perception of free will the
“last appetite of deliberation”
Our body of hopes, desires, fears, and aversions
pursued until completed or thought impossible to
complete is called our deliberation
Adhering to or omitting and action is what gives us the
perception of free will
Purpose of Life
What gives meaning and purpose to life?
Life’s purpose is strictly physical bound.
Humans do not extract immaterial responses to stimuli
and therefore do not experience supernatural aspects
of life.
Purpose of Life
Cause and effect:
Because of our dependence upon our sensations (no
supernatural source to knowledge) our purpose of life
is to respond physically to the environment.
Individualistic:
The individual decides his or her own purpose for
existence in the physical world.
Quotes
“’Consciousness is a
process in the brain’,
on my view is neither
self-contradictory nor
self-evident; it is a
reasonable scientific
hypothesis, in the
way that the
statement ‘lightning
is the motion of
electric charges’ is a
reasonable scientific
hypothesis.”
This quote is U.T. Place’s original
assertion in his paper that found
the philosophical school of the
identity theory. Realizing that the
belief that mental events exist
separately and cannot be defined
in terms regarding the physical, or
dualism, is no longer widely
accepted, Place formulates his
own ideas of the mental aspect of
physicalism. His conclusion,
demonstrated in his paper Is
Consciousness a Brain Process? , is
that what we perceive as mental
events are in actuality the same as
physical states.
Quotes
“Science is the
knowledge of
consequences, and
dependence of one
fact upon another.”
-Thomas Hobbes
Being a major proponent of metaphysical
philosophy in his era, Hobbes stresses the
ideal of cause and effect. Because of the
increase in scientific advancements in his
era, Hobbes described the mind body
connection in a way specifically associating
the mind body problem in a metaphysical
way. Having beliefs that heavily contribute
to the Identity Theory, he advocates that
scientific philosophy is the evaluation of
cause and effect and therefore, sets the
basis for what the Identity theory stands
upon. He is stating that what we perceive
relies upon the general perception of
various objects, and therefore portrays the
interdependence of physical perception with
knowledge.
Inquiry Question
If the identity of a human is based upon the strictly
physical mind body connection (BC’s = MS’s) and
therefore sensations (brain processes) of
environmental stimuli, is human existence concrete?
Inquiry Question
Can a particular conscious experience be described in
terms of brain function? Specifically, can the
sensation of pain be accurately described by the
corresponding physical reactions of the brain? Or is
there an additional understanding missing?
Works Cited
Armstrong, David. “The Nature of Mind” EBSCO. N.p. 1980. Web, 20 Dec. 2012.
"Book Reviews." Rev. of The Mind in Nature. International Journal of Philosophical
Studies Vol 17. 623-25 Print.
Dempsey, Liam P. "Conscious Experience, Reduction and Identity: Many Explanatory
Gaps, One Solution." Philosophical Psychology 17.3 (2004): 225-45. EBSCO. Web. 12
Dec. 2012.
Mumford, Steven. Rev. of Dispositions: a Debate, D.M. Armstrong, C.B. Martin, and U.T.
Place. The Philosophical Quarterly 1998: 548-550. Print.
J.J.C. Smart. “Sensations and Brain Processes” EBSCO. N.p., 1962. Web. 20 Dec. 2012.
Place, U.T. "Is Consciousness a Brain Process?" EBSCO. N.p., 30 Nov. 1954. Web. 20 Dec.
2012.
Pojman, Louis P. Who Are We?: Theories of Human Nature. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2005.
Print.
Polger, Thomas. "Are Sensations Still Brain Processes?" Rev. of Sensations and Brain
Processes. Print.
Sher, George. "Armstrong and the Interdependence of the Mental." Rev. of A
Materialist Theory of the Mind. 227-35. Print.