Logical Behaviorism Vs Dualism

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There are many theories about the mind and body. Many philosophers argue whether the mind and body are two separate entities or are in fact one thing. There are five main arguments for this accounts they are, dualism, logical behaviorism, methodological behaviorism, identity-theory, and lastly functualism. There are many similarities and differences between these five theories. Dualism is the main focus that I will be recounting, then comparing and contrasting it against identity-theory and logical behaviorism. Dualism is the theory that the mind and body are two separate things. Dualism implies that the mind and soul can exist separate from the actual body. In the mind we have inner states. These states are considered not connected to any specific part of the body but in another place entirely. No one knows that’s why they are considered inner states. Inner states cannot be questioned because we as humans cannot distinguish each and every other persons’ inner thoughts. We can only distinguish our own thoughts and inner states. That is why the argument that …show more content…

Logical behaviorists believe that there are no inner mental states but we know mental states because of behavior we see through others. The problem with this is that we cannot analyze beliefs and desires through inner states because that would be too easy. Mental states to behaviorists are not inner states, this is because if they were then we would not be able to identify within others. The argument is that because we can see the mental states through others they are real but because we cannot see inner mental states they are not real. Dualists would disagree with this method of thought. They would think that just because others cannot physically see your inner mental states does not mean they aren’t there. Inner mental states are what makes us who we are. Seeing behaviors through others, to dualists, is just another way of their inner states

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