Dualism's Modern Challengers

Descartes's dualism dominated Western thought for centuries but faces serious challenges from modern science. Neuroscience consistently shows that mental states correlate with brain states. Damage specific brain regions and specific mental capacities disappear; stimulate certain neurons and specific experiences arise.

If every mental event has a physical correlate, the non-physical mind seems unnecessary. Physicalists argue that consciousness is what brains do, not something separate interacting with brains. The interaction problem then dissolves, because there is no non-physical mind to move the body.

Yet consciousness remains mysterious.