Learning objective:
To understand what is meant by mind-brain type identity theory
Reductive
ontological
What do you see?
What’s the theory?
• The mind IS the brain
• Mental states and processes are literally identical
to physical ones (something in the brain)
• Facts about the mind are reducible to facts about
the brain – so thoughts, dreams etc are just brain
states.
• The identity theory hopes that research can and
will eventually identify what each thought,
feeling, desire is in the brain.
• What does it mean to be identical?
• The terms mind and brain refer to the same
thing; their qualities are identical. But the
identity theorist is not saying talk of the mind
means the same as talk of the brain (because
if I say I love my husband I do not mean
certain neurons are firing in my brain). But as
a matter of empirical fact they happen to be
the same.
• This is called an ‘ontological reduction’.
J. J. C. Smart
‘Sensations and Brain Processes’
1. Read the extract and highlight
the important points.
2. Answer: How does type
identity theory solve the
problem of mental causation?
3. Read through pages 306-307 of
orange book and write down
the strengths of the theory.
LB vs. IT
• Which is more convincing at this stage and
why?
Explain why the mind-brain type identity theory is a
reductive theory of the mind (5 marks)
5
A full, clear and precise explanation. The student make logical links
between precisely identified points with no redundancy
4
A clear explanation, with logical links, but some
imprecision/redundancy
3
The substantive content of the explanation is present and there is an
attempt at logical linking. But the explanation is not full and/or precise
2
One or two relevant points made, but not precisely. The logical is
unclear
1
Fragmented points, with no logical structure
0
Nothing written worthy of credit