Two Sides of the Same Coin: Panpsychism as a Solution to the Mind-Body Problem

Presenter Hometown

Mount Sterling, Kentucky

Major

Philosophy and Political Science

Department

Philosophy and Religion

Degree

Undergraduate

Mentor

Minh Nguyen; Steve Parchment

Mentor Department

Philosophy and Religion

Abstract

In his Meditations on First Philosophy, René Descartes set the framework for the Mind-Body problem in philosophy. Descartes suggested that humans are composed of two distinct substances: a physical, non-thinking Body, and a non-physical, thinking Mind. This view is called substance dualism. The Mind-Body problem is this: if humans are indeed composed of two distinct substances, how could the substances interact? In this poster, I provide an answer to this question: all of reality is not two distinct substances, but one substance that is both mental and physical. This view is called panpsychism. In this poster, I present a history of the Mind-Body Problem and defend the position that panpsychism is the best solution to it.

Presentation format

Poster

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Two Sides of the Same Coin: Panpsychism as a Solution to the Mind-Body Problem

In his Meditations on First Philosophy, René Descartes set the framework for the Mind-Body problem in philosophy. Descartes suggested that humans are composed of two distinct substances: a physical, non-thinking Body, and a non-physical, thinking Mind. This view is called substance dualism. The Mind-Body problem is this: if humans are indeed composed of two distinct substances, how could the substances interact? In this poster, I provide an answer to this question: all of reality is not two distinct substances, but one substance that is both mental and physical. This view is called panpsychism. In this poster, I present a history of the Mind-Body Problem and defend the position that panpsychism is the best solution to it.