Learning objectives

Since the mind‒body problem is one of the most basic problems that psychology has to deal with, you will be introduced to the problem in its initial philosophical forms. As a result, you should be familiar with the following:

  • The intellectual progression from Descartes’ interactionism, alternative dualistic solutions were offered: occasionalism, double aspect theory, psychophysical parallelism, and epiphenomenalism.
  • Monistic materialist solutions based on reductionism or emergence will be considered.
  • Dualistic accounts from psychology along with the dismissal of the problem altogether in favor of some form of reductionism.
  • Lastly, you will be introduced to possible solutions and the possibility that there is no problem beyond an intellectual one.

In the end you should have sufficient insight to decide for yourself which of the possible alternatives is the one that you most favor, if any.