Class of metaphysical theories in the philosophy of mind
Neutral monism is an umbrella term for a class of metaphysical theories in the philosophy of mind, concerning the relation of mind to matter. These theories take the fundamental nature of reality to be neither mental nor physical; in other words it is "neutral".[1]
Neutral monism has gained prominence as a potential solution to theoretical issues within the philosophy of mind, specifically the mind–body problem and the hard problem of consciousness. The mind–body problem is the problem of explaining how mind relates to matter. The hard problem is a related philosophical problem targeted at physicalist theories of mind specifically: the problem arises because it is not obvious how a purely physical universe could give rise to conscious experience. This is because physical explanations are mechanistic: that is, they explain phenomena by appealing to underlying functions and structures. And, though explanations of this sort seem to work well for a wide variety of phenomena, conscious experience seems uniquely resistant to functional explanations. As the philosopher David Chalmers has put it: "even when we have explained the performance of all the cognitive and behavioral functions in the vicinity of experience - perceptual discrimination, categorization, internal access, verbal report - there may still remain a further unanswered question: Why is the performance of these functions accompanied by experience?"[2] The hard problem has motivated Chalmers and other philosophers to abandon the project of explaining consciousness in terms physical or chemical mechanisms (only 56.5% of philosophers are physicalists, according to the most recent PhilPapers survey).[3]
With this, there has been growing demand for alternative ontologies (such as neutral monism) that may provide explanatory frameworks more suitable for explaining the existence of consciousness. It has been accepted by several prominent English-speaking philosophers, such as William James and Bertrand Russell.
^Craig, Edward. (1998). Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Routledge. p. 816. ISBN 0415-07310-3
^Chalmers, David J. (1995). "Facing Up to the Problem of Consciousness". consc.net. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
Neutralmonism is an umbrella term for a class of metaphysical theories in the philosophy of mind, concerning the relation of mind to matter. These theories...
Monism attributes oneness or singleness (Greek: μόνος) to a concept, such as to existence. Various kinds of monism can be distinguished: Priority monism...
monism is a type of neutralmonism. The theory is attributed to Bertrand Russell, and may also be called Russell's panpsychism, or Russell's neutral monism...
physical properties (hence "property dualism"). Meanwhile, panpsychism and neutralmonism, broadly speaking, view consciousness as intrinsic to matter. In its...
Indian and Chinese philosophy, monism is integral to how experience is understood. Today, the most common forms of monism in Western philosophy are physicalist...
Neuroethics - Neurophilosophy - Neuroscience, philosophy of - Neurotheology - Neutralmonism - New Age - New realism - New Thought - Nihilism - Nominalism - Nondualism...
material things do not exist. Subjective idealism rejects dualism, neutralmonism, and materialism; it is the contrary of eliminative materialism, the...
of explanatory interest. Biological naturalism Neutralmonism Donald Davidson (2001). "Anomalous monism". In Robert Andrew Wilson; Frank C. Keil (eds.)...
on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024. Griffin, Nicholas (1998). "NeutralMonism". Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780415249126-N035-1...
Neutralmonism, which holds that one sort of thing fundamentally exists, to which both the mental and the physical can be reduced. Material monism (also...
Bernardus Silvestris Double-aspect theory Eric Neumann Monopsychism Neutralmonism Perennial philosophy Sufi metaphysics Unconscious spirit Hinton III...
Ethics of uncertain sentience Map–territory relation Mind-body problem Neutralmonism NPC (meme) No true Scotsman Problem of other minds Quantum Night Reverse...
the object-based conception) it lacks the resources to distinguish neutralmonism (or panprotopsychism) from physicalism. Further, Restrepo argues that...
things in germ. Apeirogon Arche Ein Sof Brahman God Idealism Infinity Neutralmonism Taiji (philosophy) Theogony Tzimtzum Wuji (philosophy) Ayin and Yesh...
or experience truly exists, and matter is merely an illusion), and neutralmonism (which holds that both mind and matter are aspects of a distinct essence...
viewpoint. Nimbarka's school of differential monism (Dvaitadvaita), Ramanuja's school of qualified monism (Vishistadvaita) and Saiva Siddhanta and Kashmir...
contrast to idealism, neutralmonism, and spiritualism. It can also contrast with phenomenalism, vitalism, and dual-aspect monism. Its materiality can...
November 3, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2021. Stubenberg, Stubenberg. "NeutralMonism". The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford University. Archived...
What is it Like to be a Bat? Qualia Supervenience Philosophical Zombie Neutralmonism Chinese Room Meditations on First Philosophy Consciousness Explained...
Vedanta Anaximander (Anaximander posited a monism which he described as "apeiron".) Neoplatonism Neutralmonism Nonduality Open individualism Parmenides...
praised James's radical empiricism, to which Russell's own account of neutralmonism was indebted.: 17 Dewey, in The Bertrand Russell Case, defended Russell...
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