I can only take a guess. Physicalism/materialism is an interesting view in metaphysics and philosophy of the mind -- it is anti phenomenology and idealism. So given this brief description, your argument could take you very far as there's enough material (no pun intended) there to support your argument.Is it that the focus given to physicalism is due because it is truly central to philosophical discourse, or is it just an accident that occurred by coincidence due to the interests of the forum's userbase? — Kuro
I've not been here for a long of time, but I can't help myself but notice the sheer abundance of focality given to the discussion of physicalism/materialism vs rival positions (idealism, dualism, etc) in this forum, whether it's with regards to the philosophy of mind or ontology in general. — Kuro
My hunch is that the mind is in the spotlight so to speak in the scientific community - there's frenetic research ongoing in neuroscience, aimed at unravelling the mysteries of the mind, an enterprise equivalent in importance to space exploration (I'm fairly certain that a cost comparison between the two should vindicate my claim). Does anyone have hard data, figures, stats, to support this? — Agent Smith
Is it that the focus given to physicalism is due because it is truly central to philosophical discourse, or is it just an accident that occurred by coincidence due to the interests of the forum's userbase? — Kuro
Physicalism of various stripes is the default in modern secular culture. Its assumptions are widely embedded even in many people who don’t know what the word means. So it’s a natural subject of debate. — Wayfarer
Is it that the focus given to physicalism is due because it is truly central to philosophical discourse, or is it just an accident that occurred by coincidence due to the interests of the forum's userbase? — Kuro
Is it that the focus given to physicalism is due because it is truly central to philosophical discourse — Kuro
Materialism on the other hand, is merely based on facts,and that's why has an "advantage" on that fight. But idealists will never give up fighting for their hope so easily. Unless science brings something unquestionable one day. — dimosthenis9
Yeah, true. That's suspect -- all within 2 weeks. But, again, I think the allure of physicalism/materialism is that it is easy to grasp, and therefore easier to talk about. You have a strong foundation with physicalism. I mean, at least the rebuttal you're up against are manageable.This question, this one, this one, this one, this one, or not to forget this one or this one. All asked within 2 weeks. Conspicuous! Seems a popular subject. Why would that be? — EugeneW
Even elementary particles need other particles to gain identity. Add to this the bare fact that the internal identity of those basic structures of nature can never be known apart from assimilating them to our own internal reality — EugeneW
Is it that the focus given to physicalism is due because it is truly central to philosophical discourse, or is it just an accident that occurred by coincidence due to the interests of the forum's userbase? — Kuro
Good point! What kind of telescope is needed to observe dark mind matter or energy? — EugeneW
NASA budget for 2020 was $20 billion while only $10 billion was spent on neuroscience — Agent Smith
I think part of why it is such a big topic is that physicalism is a very successful idea, and explains a lot of things. — Count Timothy von Icarus
"Only" 10 billion? For such a small volume it's relative an infinite amount! — EugeneW
none of which might have any bearing on philosophy of mind, as such. The major applications of neuroscience are medical and therapeutic. (Well, leaving aside Neuralink.) — Wayfarer
If I had to guess, its a need for people to think they're better than the physical animals they are. — Philosophim
If the products of the mind (rockets, spaceships, the James Webb Space Telescope) are so marvelous, imagine how amazing the mind must be! — Agent Smith
My guess would be that this debate is the equivalent of a festering religious war or dispute, attracting the kind of fanatic energy and never-ending attention typical of religious wars and disputes. — Olivier5
If the products of the mind (rockets, spaceships, the James Webb Space Telescope) are so marvelous, imagine how amazing the mind must be!
— Agent Smith
Humans alone can peer into the realm of the possible and brings things back from it. — Wayfarer
If I had to guess, its a need for people to think they're better than the physical animals they are.
— Philosophim
That humans are different to animals is not a matter of opinion. We show capabilities and attributes that no animal can come close to, I don't see how this can be glossed over or ignored. — Wayfarer
Certainly, we are the smartest animals we know of. But we share many traits with animals as well, and I don't see how this can be glossed over or ignored. There is nothing beyond your brain and body. It is a wish and desire that we are more than that, nothing more. — Philosophim
I fully accept Mr. Darwin's conclusion as to the essential identity of man's bodily structure with that of the higher mammalia, and his descent from some ancestral form common to man and the anthropoid apes. The evidence of such descent appears to me to be overwhelming and conclusive. Again, as to the cause and method of such descent and modification, we may admit, at all events provisionally, that the laws of variation and natural selection, acting through the struggle for existence and the continual need of more perfect adaptation to the physical and biological environments, may have brought about, first that perfection of bodily structure in which he is so far above all other animals, and in co-ordination with it the larger and more developed brain, by means of which he has been able to utilise that structure in the more and more complete subjection of the whole animal and vegetable kingdoms to his service.
But this is only the beginning of Mr. Darwin's work, since he goes on to discuss the moral nature and mental faculties of man, and derives these too by gradual modification and development from the lower animals. Although, perhaps, nowhere distinctly formulated, his whole argument tends to the conclusion that man's entire nature and all his faculties, whether moral, intellectual, or spiritual, have been derived from their rudiments in the lower animals, in the same manner and by the action of the same general laws as his physical structure has been derived.
There is nothing beyond your brain and body. — Philosophim
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