On September 13, 1848, an unusual accident changed the life of a worker named Phineas Gage. An iron rod, almost as tall as he was, was blasted through his skull during an explosion. Amazingly, Gage survived, but his personality changed dramatically. Before the accident, he was known as a hardworking and respectable man. Afterward, he became aggressive and unpredictable. This transformation has fascinated psychologists and neurologists and raises important philosophical questions about the mind and its connection to the body.
Gage’s case shows that our personalities, which we often think of as non-physical, are directly affected by physical changes in the brain. This leads us to ask: Where does our mind really exist?
Most modern scientists believe in a theory called reductive physicalism. This idea suggests that everything in the universe, including humans, is made up of physical substances. According to this view, all parts of our identity, like personality, can be explained by our physical bodies—especially our brains, hormones, and neurotransmitters. So, when Gage’s brain was altered, his personality changed too. This concept is also seen in psychiatry, where changing a patient’s brain chemistry with medication can alter their mood and behavior.
On the other hand, philosopher René Descartes introduced the idea of substance dualism. This theory claims that the mind and body are made of two different substances. Descartes famously said, “Cogito, ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am), meaning he could doubt his body’s existence but not his mind’s. Substance dualists believe the mind is a non-physical entity that can’t be fully explained by physical processes. This view suggests humans are unique because they combine both physical and mental substances, allowing interaction between the two.
The interaction between mind and body leads to the mind-body problem, a philosophical puzzle about how a non-physical mind can affect a physical body and vice versa. Descartes suggested the mind interacts with the body through the pineal gland, but this doesn’t really solve the problem.
Many modern philosophers have moved away from substance dualism because of the complexities of the mind-body problem. Some support physicalism, while others think certain human experiences can’t be reduced to just physical explanations.
To show the limits of reductive physicalism, philosopher Frank Jackson presents the thought experiment of Mary. Mary is a neurophysicist who has lived her entire life in a black-and-white room, learning everything about color through a black-and-white TV. When she finally sees color for the first time, the question is: Has she learned something new? Jackson argues that the experience of seeing color—what it feels like—is different from the factual knowledge she gained in the room. This highlights the concept of qualia, or subjective experiences, which physicalism struggles to explain.
Physicalists respond to Jackson’s argument by saying the thought experiment assumes Mary learns something new when she sees color. If physicalism is correct, they argue, her understanding of color shouldn’t change upon seeing it. They believe that as science advances, the physicalist view will become stronger.
Not all philosophers fit neatly into physicalism or dualism. Some support epiphenomenalism, which suggests that while physical states can create mental states, mental states don’t affect physical states. This view implies our thoughts and feelings exist but don’t influence our physical actions.
Another perspective is offered by philosopher Colin McGinn, who supports mysterianism. He argues that the question of consciousness might be impossible for humans to solve because our understanding is limited. Our subjective experiences and objective scientific knowledge operate in different realms, making it hard to connect the two.
The mind-body problem is still unsolved, and the debate between physicalism and dualism continues. Questions about consciousness, the relationship between mind and body, and thought experiments like Mary’s challenge our understanding of what it means to be human. As we explore these philosophical questions, we are left to think about the complexities of our own existence and the nature of our consciousness.
In the next discussion, we will explore how artificial intelligence and robotics impact our understanding of the mind.
Research the case of Phineas Gage in more detail. Create a presentation that explains how his accident contributed to our understanding of the mind-body connection. Discuss the implications of his personality changes and how they support or challenge the theories of reductive physicalism and substance dualism.
Participate in a classroom debate. Split into two groups, with one side defending reductive physicalism and the other supporting substance dualism. Use evidence from the article and additional research to argue your position. Consider how each theory explains the mind-body problem and the case of Phineas Gage.
Engage in a thought experiment based on Frank Jackson’s “Mary’s Room.” Write a reflective essay on whether you believe Mary learns something new upon seeing color for the first time. Discuss how this thought experiment challenges or supports the concept of qualia and the limitations of physicalism.
Create a simulation or role-play activity that explores the mind-body problem. Assign roles to different students, such as a physicalist, a dualist, and a mysterian. Discuss how each perspective would interpret various scenarios involving consciousness and physical changes, like those experienced by Phineas Gage.
Maintain a philosophical journal for a week. Each day, reflect on your own experiences and thoughts, considering how they might be explained by physicalism or dualism. At the end of the week, write a summary of your reflections and how they have influenced your understanding of the mind-body problem.
Mind – The aspect of an individual that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel; the faculty of consciousness and thought. – In philosophy, the mind is often debated as either a separate entity from the body or as a product of physical processes.
Body – The physical structure of a person or an organism, often considered in contrast to the mind or spirit. – Descartes famously argued for a distinction between the mind and the body, a concept known as dualism.
Consciousness – The state of being aware of and able to think about one’s own existence, sensations, thoughts, and surroundings. – The nature of consciousness is a central question in both philosophy and psychology, often referred to as the “hard problem” of consciousness.
Personality – The combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual’s distinctive character. – In psychology, personality is studied to understand how individuals differ in their patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving.
Physicalism – The doctrine that everything that exists is no more extensive than its physical properties, and that the only existing substance is physical. – Physicalism posits that mental states are entirely dependent on physical processes in the brain.
Dualism – The division of something conceptually into two opposed or contrasted aspects, often referring to the mind-body distinction. – Dualism suggests that mental phenomena are non-physical and that the mind and body are distinct and separable.
Qualia – The internal and subjective component of sense perceptions, arising from stimulation of the senses by phenomena. – Philosophers debate whether qualia can be fully explained by physical processes or if they represent a fundamental aspect of consciousness.
Experience – The knowledge or skill acquired by a period of practical experience of something, especially that gained in a particular profession. – In phenomenology, experience is considered the primary source of knowledge about the world.
Thought – An idea or opinion produced by thinking, or occurring suddenly in the mind. – The study of thought processes is a key component of cognitive psychology, which seeks to understand how people process information.
Psychology – The scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behavior in a given context. – Psychology explores various aspects of human behavior, from cognitive processes to emotional responses.
