Monism

How does this support Monism?

Who is to say that a desk really is a desk, and a chair really is a chair.

Monism

Reality and the universe consist of only one essence -

the physical brain.

Identity Position

The physical brain is the one essence, and any other descriptions of it such as mind and soul are just an individuals interpretation.

Phenomenalism relies on sense data to interpret

objects. This sense data is a similar idea to

schemas, which are mental shortcuts we use

to help us identify objects.

Spatial neglect

If we cannot perceive part of the world, it is because our brain does not recognise it - therefore it does not exist.

Can you be certain that you are sitting at a desk right now? It may be an idea that your mind has produced.

What did you see?

DRAWING DONE BY SOMEONE WITH SPATIAL NEGLECT

Group A:

-Bunny rabbit

-Duck

Group B:

-Good

-Evil

Identity Position in everyday life...

• We all see the same objects yet we all have different ways of describing and interpreting them

• Optical illusions

"Only the mind really exists and that the physical world could not exist unless some mind were aware of it"

Phenomenalism

Some insight...

Kalat, Biological Psychology, 2013, pg. 445

"Also known as subjective idealism, theorises that physical or material objects and events exist as perceptual objects, properties, sensations or appearances – ultimately claiming that only mental objects (for example the mind) exist."

To put this notion simply, mentalism can be explained in a way that is similar to a dream... When we are dreaming, there are physical "material" objects that we can touch and see, but these objects are made up from your mental processes and therefore do not exist in a physical word.

Theories against Materialism

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2014

Identity Position

Mentalism

• Placebo effect
• Behaviourism
• Learned helplessness

Identity Position refers to the view that both mental processes and specific brain processes are the same thing; described in different terms.

For example:

One singular object can be described by different people in a variety of

ways, yet it doesn't change what the object

actually is

Mentalism describes an area of study that concentrates on mental perception and thought processes

The left side of the screen depicts a

person without depression. They have a normal level of serotonin activity in the brain.

The right side depicting abnormally low levels of serotonin - therefore indicating depression.

Use of psychoactive

drugs

• Depression

• Recreational use of MDMA

• Substance abuse disorder

“Materialism is the view that everything that exists is material (or physical). In reference to neuroscience, this asserts that all mental processes of the ‘mind’ are a product of the physical brain, and that the mind does not exist as a separate entity.”

(Egnor, 2008)

What is Monism?

Here are some examples of the Autonomic Nervous System being affected from MDMA (left)

Use of MDMA in recreational scenarios (right)

The view that reality and the universe consists of only one essence - the physical brain.

Kalat, Biological Psychology, 2013, pg. 445

Religious Monism

Monism vs. Dualism

Categorised into two distinct but mutual classes:

• Monotheism

• Monism itself

Completely opposite views

Dualism: mind and body are separate entities

Mentalism: mind and body are the same entities

• Exposed to dualism in everyday life - for example free will

• Monism rejects this - free will does not occur (studies by Benjamin Libet)

Alle Wood, Emilly Ross-Gilder, Cassandra Hose & Claire Hall

Question 1

Thank you for listening!

FALSE

Identity position is the exact opposite; it is the view that the mind and body are the same entity, but can be described in different ways

Identity position is the idea that mind & body are completely seperate entities but are described as the same thing.

True or False?

References

FALSE

Perceptual Ambiguity is an example that challenges Phenomenonalism as it's difficult to determine our exact perception of object

(e.g. how do we we all see the same shade of blue?)

Egnor, M. (2008). Materialist Neuroscience and the "Hard Problem" of Consciousness. Retrieved July 25, 2014, from www.evolutionnews.org/2008/01/materialist_neuroscience_and_t004723.html.

Encyclopedia Britannica. (2014). Phenonenalism. Retrieved July 28th 2014 from <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/455544/phenomenalism>.

Kalat, J. (2013). Biological Psychology (ed. 11). Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

McLeod, S. (2007). Mind Body Debate. Retrieved August 1st 2014, from <http://www.simplypsychology.org/ mindbodydebate.html>.

Question 2

Question 5

The Placebo Effect supports materialism

True or False?

Perceptual Ambiguity is an example supporting Phenomenonalism

True or False?

True

or

False

FALSE

The placebo effect disproves the theory of materialism.

The placebo effect shows that cognition and behaviour may be changed by the "spirital mind" as well as the physical brain.

FALSE

Monism leads to further explain Pantheism as the understanding that all relgious paths lead to the same end, as there is only one reality or substance and that everything

else is an illusion

MONISM

Question 4

Question 3

TRUE

It is the belief that only the

mind exists and the physical world does not

The religious views of Monism differentiate from that of Pantheism

True or False?

Mentalism is the belief that the mind is what truely exists

True or False?