Definition
Mind-body naturalism holds that mental life is implemented by physical processes in bodies and brains, not by a separate immaterial substance.
Why It Matters
Holding onto dualistic views of the mind can impede medical and psychiatric progress by treating mental health as ‘other’ than physical health. Naturalism ensures that human consciousness is studied with the same rigor as biological systems, leading to more effective treatments and deeper self-understanding.
Core Concepts
- Dualism faces an interaction problem: a soul must affect matter somehow.
- Known physics constrains possible mind-body interactions.
- Mental states can be real as emergent patterns.
- The body is not a vehicle for the self; it is part of the self.