Taking a class in metaphysics this semester centering on the problem of other minds. It's a perennial problem in philosophy, one that concerns how we know other people have minds. (The more I watch TV, the less I believe there are other minds). While there is the epistemological problem of how we are justified in believing in other minds, I think the deeper (and more interesting) problem is how we come to attribute meaning to mental terms. Or what makes us think that what we mean by pain is what others mean by it. How do we know we are talking about the same thing?
Also interesting is how the problem connects with other issues (the mind/body problem, the meaning of mental terms, introspection, private languages, etc.) My professor wants to remain neutral on as many of these issues as possible, but that's going to be tough. For my part, I'm going to see how the dualist can address the relevant problems.
Posted by Tim at September 13, 2004 10:53 PM