Philosophy Identity Theory Questions Medium
In the field of philosophy, Identity Theory refers to the view that mental states are identical to brain states. However, there are two main versions of Identity Theory: reductive and non-reductive.
The reductive version of Identity Theory asserts that mental states can be fully reduced to and explained by physical brain states. According to this perspective, mental states are nothing more than physical processes occurring in the brain. In other words, mental states are identical to specific patterns of neural activity. This reductionist approach aims to explain all mental phenomena solely in terms of physical properties and processes, ultimately reducing the mind to the brain.
On the other hand, the non-reductive version of Identity Theory acknowledges the correlation between mental states and brain states but does not claim that mental states can be fully reduced to physical brain states. Non-reductive Identity Theory recognizes that mental states have their own unique properties and cannot be fully explained by physical processes alone. While mental states may be dependent on brain states, they are not reducible to them. This perspective allows for the possibility that mental states may have emergent properties that cannot be explained solely by the physical properties of the brain.
In summary, the main difference between reductive and non-reductive versions of Identity Theory lies in their stance on the reducibility of mental states to physical brain states. Reductive Identity Theory argues for complete reduction, while non-reductive Identity Theory acknowledges the correlation but allows for the existence of unique mental properties that cannot be fully explained by physical processes.