1. Study Lesson on dualism
2. Read Rene Descartes: Meditations on First Philosophy, Second Meditation 3. Read the first paragraph of the first chapter of Gilbert Ryle’s work The Concept of Mind, entitled “The Official Doctrine”, in which he explains the main idea of Descartes’ dualism: Gilbert Ryle: Descartes’ Myth. 4. Respond to the following questions:
1. Why does Ryle call the idea that we have both the body and the mind “the official doctrine”? Do you personally believe in it? Why does he consider “idiots and infants” as exceptions?
2. Describe the main attributes of mind and body, according to the dualist doctrine.
3. What does Ryle mean by saying that one of our “collateral histories” is private, metaphorically described as “inner”, while the other is public, usually described as “outer”? Why are those descriptions metaphorical?
4. List some examples of the interaction between our mind and our body. Describe one case of such interaction in detail, explaining, to the best of your ability, how it happens.
5. Why does Ryle say interaction between mind and body is mysterious?
6. What are the broad philosophical implications of the idea that we have both the body and the mind?
7. What knowledge do we have about our own mind as compared to the knowledge we have about other people’s minds?
8. Who is Sigmund Freud and why is he important in the discussion about “the official doctrine”?
9. What is introspection? Do you sometimes engage in it?
10. Why is it, according to dualism, possible that there exist no other minds besides my own? Why does Ryle say our descriptions of other people’s mental states are problematic?
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