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Essay on Identity Theory
| Date: |
08-17-01 11:41pm |
| Subject: |
Philosophy |
| Word Count: |
770 |
| Page Count: |
3.08 |
Identity Theory
The identity theory, also known as reductive materialism, is one of the views
Churchland uses to describe mind-brain correlation. Churchland believes that the
mental states of the body are one and in the same (double aspectism) with brain
states. They are the same because the biochemical actions produced in brain
states (release of serotonin and acetylcholine) have direct interaction with the
mental states (mood disorders such as depression). With the help of
psychological and physiological evidence the identity theory can be better
supported. It has not yet been proven but following along with the symptoms,
diagnosis, and treatment of biochemical disorders of the brain the identity
theory has a strong case towards becoming reality. Reductive materialism is
known to be the reducing of mental activity into physical activity. In its
simplest form thoughts are just states of the brain. This is basically a similar
form of Descartes line, "I think, therefore I am" or vice versa.
Churchland first tries to parallel the identity theory with sound and light.
"We now know that sound is just a train of compression waves traveling
through the air..." (BR323). Society does know or has some common sense
notion of how sound travels, yet we still consider it just "sound".
Even though we are not automatically thinking when we here a sound, "it is
waves traveling through air", we are aware to the fact that is how sound
travels. This parallelism is intertheoretic reduction; taking an older version
of reductive materialism and using it to help explain a newer version,
Churchland's identity theory. Neural activity and neuroscience play a major role
in the identity theory. "...the correct account of
human-behavior-and-its-causes must reside in the physical neurosciences"
(MR324). Neurosciences and cognitive psychology have been used together to
explain brain states and mental states correlation. "And those
behavior-controlling internal operations are precisely what the neurosciences
are about" (BR324). Neuroscience is described as being behavior that which
is a result of neural activity in the brain (i.e. consciousness). This
consciousness is a result of neural activity in the brain producing thoughts and
then behavior. The identity theorist resides on simplicity to describe
mental/brain states "...from the neural dependence of all known mental
phenomena..." (TL325). Once thought of as mental disorders, forms of
depression are now recognized as brain disorders. Understanding the biochemical
determinants and the function of the brain has helped to draw this conclusion.
Biochemical changes in the brain cause a person to fall into a depressed state.
These brain states are the release of low levels of the chemical serotonin.
Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that controls much of the mental state
(learning and memory function) with impulses between neurons. This brain state
simultaneously affects the mental state or behavior of a person who shows signs
of depression. Such signs are inability to fall asleep at night, frequent panic
attacks, loss of concentration, and thoughts of suicide or even attempted
suicide. Depression has also been linked with the low chemical release of the
neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) acetylcholine in the brain, which affects
memory capabilities in the mental state. These chemical releases can be
controlled with the aid of medication which alter the releases of these
chemicals serotonin and acetylcholine. Medication such as Zoloft, Imipramine,
Xanax and Clonopin help to alter the brain states. Once the medication has taken
effect and the brain states are under control, the mental states (thoughts) have
been altered as well. It is very hard to explain without using some doctor's
DSM-IV book but the effects the brain/neural transmitters have on the mental
states of a person are in fact the same. The thought's under the mental state
are changed solely because of the altering of the brain state. In other words
reductive materialism is at work! Concentration levels have increased and a
calmness has overcome the fear and guilt in the mental states brought on by the
brain state's biochemical releases. Another form of a brain state-controlling
device is an electronic device known as a transcutaneous electronic nerve
stimulator. This is used to control the mental states of pain. It sends
electronic currents to the brain which in turn send pain-inhibitors affecting
the mental states. Once again this shows that "our behavior appears to have
its basic causes in neural activity" (TL325). Reductive materialism by
Churchland's definition is simply the reduction of mental phenomena into
physical phenomena, and vice versa making them the same. This identity theory
holds much ground in the psychological and physiological forms as well. The
example of depression is just one of many claims that can be taken into
consideration for the plausibility of the identity theory. This brain disorder
was used because of the personal involvement that I have with it. Mental and
brain states are one and in the same idea due to the fact that I am experiencing
these effects due to obsessive-compulsive disorder and high anxiety which I am
being treated for. Mental and brain states are reduced into one with the
occurrence of biochemical releases simultaneously changing thoughts and
behavior.
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