*For the purpose of this paper as well as a clearer distinction between mind and body, I shall here on refer to the mind in the �mind body problem� as a soul which shall be further explained and expanded on during the course of this essay.*
The soul-body problem arises from the notion that fundamentally, the soul is different from that which is matter. This soul-body problem opens up to further questions of the origin of the soul if it is not matter, as well as the relationship it has with the body and how they function as a singular unit. It is my stance that it is possible for such a thing to exist as a material soul that fulfills the conceptual role of an immaterial soul. Where dualism struggles to explain the causal effect and connection on an immaterial soul and a material body, the concept of a material soul breaches that void.
Dualism intends to explain the possibility of a relationship between something which is of matter and something which is not, even though the implications of such a relationship raises questions on the compatibility of the two separate theories of idealism and materialism. No matter how absurd a theory may appear to be, it still warrants an explication of the theory for a further understanding of a position which is opposed to it.
Dualism explains that the soul which is not material, causally acts upon the body which is of substance and vice versa. With this, the material body is considered to be mine as well as the immaterial soul, and it is the relationship between the body and the soul that is who I am. This theory implies that it is the relationship of causal effects that binds the body and soul together and nothing more. A problem with this theory is the question of how something that is immaterial have any affect on something that is material, and again vice versa. Furthermore, how can such a connection be possible even if there is a cause and effect system set in place, for the compatibility of material substance and immaterial substance is at best still problematic and contradictory.
The concept of immaterial souls in dualism is set forth to explain a continuation of the person far beyond the passing of the body as well as a connection between the body and soul, hence, giving comfort to individuals who fear mortality (which to my understanding is nearly all of mankind) by bypassing the idea that material substance can be destroyed, like the body, whereas an immaterial soul has the possibility of further existence. Also, unlike materialism, the idea of a soul gives rise to the idea that we are all unique and special individuals that separate us from others. Rather than just being a system of complicated parts functioning purely based on environment, and are only separated numerically by the bodies which we possess.
While all this is set forth in hopes of explaining the relationship between a body and soul as well as keeping the idea of uniqueness and the possibility for continuation after the passing of a body, the idea of a material soul still maintains these aspects and presents a stronger argument for a connection. Since we established that our bodies are material, the idea that a material soul is inside of our bodies establishes a direct connection between the two, and therefore bypasses the body-soul problem entirely. For a finger is as much a part of our bodies as a hand, or a brain, heart, or organs, all interconnected and causally related to each-other. With the implication of a material soul, it would be possible for it to interact and casually effect all that is contained within the body or the body itself. In terms of a continuation of a material soul beyond that of body, a distinction between the two still needs to be made. For if the body cannot exist past its end, and a material soul is a part of the body, some may say that the soul too would cease to exist. However in the case of thermodynamics, energy and electricity cannot be destroyed, and if the soul was comprised of energy and electricity, and still maintain its material form, the destruction of it would be impossible. With this in mind, the soul comprised of energy and electricity would have the capability of function beyond that of the body, explaining the continuation of the material soul beyond that of the material body. Also, with the lack of knowledge of electricity and energy, it is possible for the soul to remain unique from all other souls, thus maintaining individuality and �special-ness�.
A Dualists response to such a claim may include that with current technology a material soul has not been found within the body. Therefore material souls do not exist. Without evidence of a material soul it could not be material, for everything which is material is observable and detectable. Consequently, a soul could only exist as an immaterial substance within the body with a cause and effect relationship between the two.
A problem with the statement of the Dualists objection is that it is possible for material to exist that is not observable through our current technologies. The idea of radio waves existed long before it was possible to detect them as a material substance through a developed technology. Therefore it could be said that it is a technological inadequacy that prevents us from the detection of a material soul within the body. There is also the possibility that the material soul has already been detected, but because there is nothing to compare it to or contrast it by that we would not know that it was the soul even if it was found. The detection of energy and electricity within the body has been empirically proven, however this said electricity/energy could contain or be the material soul.
It is possible for such a thing to exist as a material soul that fulfills the conceptual role of an immaterial soul. Continuation and uniqueness is still contained with the idea of a material soul, as well as the relationship it maintains with the body. For a material soul being of the same substance of body provides a simple connection and explanation of causality, as well as the possibility of eternality. Since electricity and energy cannot be destroyed, and being material, as well as not being able to prove or disprove the presence of a soul within it, there exists the possibility of the existence of a material soul that fulfills the conceptual role of an immaterial soul.
11:18 a.m. - 2007-02-01
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