The Enduring Self
Philosopher Daniel Dennett explains that each of us is a collection of cells that individually on their own are what he terms "dumb" and "robotic." Who we are--in other words, the self by which we distinguish ourselves f..
The Irreducibility of Consciousness
Philosopher John Searle talks about reduction, and details a number of the scientific phenomena that are what he calls "textbook models of reduction." Some of these include color, light, and the heat of a gas. Professor ..
The Justification of the State
Philosopher John Searle rejects the idea of having to justify "the state" because he says we are not only biological "beasts" but social beasts as well, and can't live without some kind of institutional structure. He doe..
The Mind and the Body
Philosopher John Searle explains that when the body (including, of course, the brain) dies, the mind and the self die at the same time. He rejects the notion that there is something else, what some would call the soul, t..
The Mind-Body Problem
Philosopher John Searle explores "the mind-body problem." He begins by talking about the perspective of Descartes and others who viewed the mind and the body as totally separate and distinct areas. Professor Searle then ..
The Nature of the Mind
Philosopher Hilary Putnam describes his current view of the mind, stating that we actually see and experience the external world, and not just an internal representation of it.
The Past, The Future, and the Human Mind
Philosopher Daniel Dennett credits the development of distal perception capacity with the human ability to understand the world--including those things that are beneficial and those that are not--and make plans according..
The Power of the State
Philosopher John Searle argues that the power of the state is created by the fact that people are willing to accept it. He goes on to say that this is true with all of our social institutions. As an example, he mentions ..
The Realism vs. Anti-Realism Debate (Part 1)
Philosopher John Searle talks about what he calls a persistent error among western philosophers since the Greeks--namely, the notion that the external world is not real in and of itself, but instead is dependent on human..
The Realism vs. Anti-Realism Debate (Part 2)
Philosopher John Searle talks about the anti-realist view that we never actually perceive the real world and instead only perceive our own perceptions of that world. Professor Searle argues that this is incorrect, that w..