Token Identity Theory

Paper Summary:

This paper states that "identity theory" claims that each and every type of mental state corresponds directly to a physical state or occurrence within the brain; but "token identity" theory does not say that the tokens share any physical properties. The author declares that the theory of dualism claims that each mental token is entirely non-physical despite the fact that it appears to be connected to the body. The paper concludes that "identity theory" and materialism are more probable than "dualism".

From the Paper:

"Now that the two opposing theories of identity theory and dualism have been defined, the various arguments for the theories can be examined. To begin with I will argue for identity theory, using an argument concerning our physical origins and evolutionary history. When a human being is conceived as a fertilized ovum, it begins life as a genetically programmed single-celled collection of molecules. The further it develops, the more molecules are added and the larger it becomes; as the cells divide over and over, the structure and amalgamation of each molecule that is added is controlled by information present in the DNA in the cell nucleus."

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