Logical Behaviorism Vs Dualism

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

the mind and body are different are controversial. Descartes uses the “Indubitable Argument” to justify dualism. He talks about how the inner states of our minds “cannot be doubted.” But he also says that our physical body can. These two premises are this way because the mind and body do not necessarily have the same properties.
The mind is considered to be not divisible because there is no place where the mind is. The mind is considered to be “invisible.” The brain can be divided, but it is considered part of the actual body and has a place; the place can be anywhere. This argument is considered to be for dualism because the properties of the mind and body are not equal.
A contrasting objection is the identity-theory. This theory is the complete opposite of dualism. Whereas dualism talks about the mind and body being separate, the identity-theory is that the mind is just a part of the body and our wants and desires (mental states) is just a physical state happening in the brain. An example is if I had the desire for a sandwich, this desire stems from cells and neurons in the brain firing to make you think that you want a sandwich. Many scientists believe in this theory because it is the “materialistic and physical” explanation for things. The identity-theory wants to believe in mental states but at the same time does not want to be tied to dualism. They believe that every mental state is always the same with a bodily state but not always in the same type of way. This theory limits the brain and mental states because, it is saying that every thought and action is just a process of the brain and that everything that goes on is purely physical. Dualism would recount this argument as absurd because how can all knowledge and beliefs come from neurons and cells in the brain? They would also say that our mental states are distinguished because not only are our minds private but our bodies can become hurt but our minds stay alert and constant. Dualists would also say that even though the brain is in physical space we cannot say for a fact that our mental states are.
Another argument against dualism is logical behaviorism.

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

showing.
I think that dualism is the way to think because it shows that there is more to our minds than just neurons firing. Our body and mind are two different things and the identity-theory is completely the opposite view which dualists would disagree with. Lastly, logical behaviorism is contradicting to dualism because of the mental and inner states of the mind. The inner states to logical behaviorists are not real but mental states are, and they are what we see in the behaviors of others. The inner life is what each person thinks. To take each of the five behaviors in account is what is needed to take and make your own judgment.