Peter Caruthers Arguments Against Dualism

Peter Caruthers beliefs on the mind-body problem contrasted Descartes. Caruthers believed the mind is physical. He posed three different reasons why Physicalism is stronger than Substance Dualism. His first argument was that physics is closed, because of this; mental events are caused by physical events in the brain. Like, Descartes, Caruthers wanted to base his ideas of scientific ideas. Caruthers agued if most scientists believed in physics as closed, in line with physical laws, they are the same. This principle left no room for a psychological layer. However, if it were possible, thoughts could impact action. Caruthers supported his idea with the Closure of Physics, and the Unity of Nature. The Closure of Physics meant there is no interference

with physical law, meaning physics is closed. The Unity of Nature is the layers of nature, most importantly, fundamental physics is the base. Caruthers argues if the mind is in the layer of neurology, we can assume mental events are caused by physical events in the brain.

Caruthers argument does seem plausible because he had more knowledge on different ideas he believed were closer to the true answer. It is successful because he breaks down his logic behind his conclusion in detail, and poses more realistic ideas based on the sciences. Caruthers had other arguments against dualism. His second argument has two parts. One, a duelist would not understand Causal over determination. Causal Over determination is when there is more than one possible cause for an event. Caruthers argues a duelist would lose logical thinking that choices are necessary to bring action. He argues, because the idea of a choice is necessary for action to happen, this makes a duelists idea wrong. His second argument was although they would argue for Epiphenomenalism, it would still be wrong. Epiphenomenalism is when you’re aware of actions after in the nervous system and brain. (SAND CASTLE? QUOTE) Caruthers believes this is wrong because the concept that actions would never happen if decisions aren’t made, it is redundant. His final argument is it would make why our decisions being acted out as an

enigma.
Caruthers definitely had a more definitive and hard stance on why duelism was wrong in his second argument. He built examples such as the sand castle to prove his point and used examples of a duelists ideas and why they were wrong. The success of this argument is more tangiable that Descartes. Following why Caruthers believed dualism was wrong, he posed a five step idea to the mind-body problem. His final idea for the mind-body problem is: If our actions are caused by the physically caused brain. This is because choices cause action meaning decisions are brain events. In simpler terms: each type of brain state is identical with a mind state. Caruthers claims that counter argued interactive dualism, causal over determination, and epiphenomenalism. This only left one solution, physicalism. Caruthers believed physicalism was the solution because it made common sense, was correct with modern science, and was accurate to processes in the brain. When it comes to an argument, biased usually occurs. Before I deeply thought about his argument some parts seemed too good to be true. However in this case, his idea is plausible. What made this final argument successful was his detailed description of why the five steps of his idea worked and counterargued.