在《第一哲學沉思集》的第六沉思中, 迪卡爾反省了心理現象和物理現象的區別。他認為, 我們能知道自己的心理現象, 卻不一定能知道外在的物理現象。心理現象不可被分割, 但物理現象可以。此外, 我們甚至能想像自己沒有身體而存在。因此, 心理現象和物理現象不同, 它們是具備不同性質的兩種現象。笛卡爾雖然區分了心靈實體和物質實體, 他認為心理現象和物理現象之間是可以有互動的。但是, 具備不同性質的兩種現象如何能產生因果關係? 是誰影響了誰? 心理狀態和物理狀態是什麼? 是否兩種狀態中的一類比另一類來得更基本? 心理現象與身體的物理現象 (特別是腦) 之間, 究竟是什麼關係? 心物二元的區分使得笛卡爾之後的哲學家面臨了這些問題。


與二元論(dualism)相對的, 有些哲學家持著唯物論(materialism)的立場, 他們認為所有的現象都是物理性的, 心理現象被包含在物理現象之中。心理現象的特色是意識和意向性, 但是, 這個世界是一個物理的世界, 這個具有時間和空間的世界就是整個世界, 在這個時間和空間的世界中, 我們能發現的就只有物質, 以及由某些物質所組成的較複雜的物體。那麼, 在這個物理世界中, 我們要如何為心靈找到一個位置 (Kim, 2003)?


本課程挑選數篇具代表性的論文做為閱讀材料, 透過這些哲學經典文獻, 使學生對心物問題及其相關議題、可能回答, 有初步的認識。

In the Sixth Meditation of Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes reflects on the difference between psychological phenomena and physical phenomena. He believes that we can know our own psychological phenomena, but we may not necessarily know external physical phenomena. Psychological phenomena cannot be divided, but physical phenomena can. Furthermore, we can even imagine ourselves existing without a body. Therefore, psychological phenomena are different from physical phenomena. They are two phenomena with different properties. Although Descartes distinguished between spiritual entities and material entities, he believed that there could be interactions between psychological phenomena and physical phenomena. However, how can two phenomena with different properties have a causal relationship? Who affects whom? What are mental states and physical states? Is one of the two states more basic than the other? What is the relationship between psychological phenomena and the physical phenomena of the body (especially the brain)? The distinction between mind and matter duality has caused philosophers after Descartes to face these problems.


In contrast to dualism, some philosophers hold a materialist stance. They believe that all phenomena are physical, and psychological phenomena are included in physical phenomena. The characteristics of psychological phenomena are consciousness and intentionality. However, this world is a physical world, and this world with time and space is the entire world. In this world of time and space, all we can find are matter and more complex objects composed of certain substances. So, how do we find a place for the mind in this physical world (Kim, 2003)?


This course selects several representative papers as reading materials. Through these philosophical classics, students can have a preliminary understanding of the mind-matter problem and its related issues and possible answers.

1. Philosophy of Mind: Classical and Contemporary Readings, edited by Chalmers, D. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.
2. The Blackwell Guide to Philosophy of Mind, edited by Stich, P. and Warfield, T. Wiley-Blackwell, 2003.

1. Philosophy of Mind: Classical and Contemporary Readings, edited by Chalmers, D. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.
2. The Blackwell Guide to Philosophy of Mind, edited by Stich, P. and Warfield, T. Wiley-Blackwell, 2003.