AQA Metaphysics of Mind keyterms - Dualism

A proposition true by definition. This means you can work out that it is true just by analysing the meanings of the words involved. For example, All sisters are female'. Analytic propositions are contrasted with synthetic' ones for which understanding the meanings of the words involved is not sufficient to determine whether they are true. Knowledge of such propositions therefore requires some knowledge of the way the world is as well. For example,' All sisters are jealous of their siblings'

• Analytic

• A priori

• Cartesian dualism

• Consciousness

A type of knowledge which can be known without the need for sense experience. By contrast, a posteriori knowledge can only be established by reference to experience. For example, we can know that no bachelors are married without conducting a survey of bachelors' marital status , but we could not work out what percentage of bachelors are left handed except by some sort of pleasure or happiness). Similarly, for most utilitarians, an act or object is bad insofar as it brings about pain or unhappiness.

• Analytic

• A priori

• Cartesian dualism

• Consciousness

Is the adjective deriving from Descartes' name, so it describes any doctrine expounded by Descartes. It refers to Descartes' version of mind-body dualism and to versions of substance dualism inspired by Descartes.

• Analytic

• A priori

• Cartesian dualism

• Consciousness

All that 'you are directly aware of, including thoughts, emotions and sensations. The contents of the mind.

• Analytic

• A priori

• Cartesian dualism

• Consciousness

In philosophy of mind, it is the view that the mind and body are not identical, meaning that the mental cannot be reduced to the physical. Often contrasted with monism.

• Dualism

• Hypothetical propositions

• Intentionality

• Introspection

An 'if...then...' statement, for example 'If you were offered a cup of tea, then you would accept.' In Ryle's analytical behaviourism, certain mental states are regarded as dispositions to act in various ways and dispositions can be translated into hypotheticals of this kind which detail what a person would do if certain circumstances were realised.

• Dualism

• Hypothetical propositions

• Intentionality

• Introspection

The quality of certain mental states which directs them beyond themselves and to things in the world. It's what makes mental states such as beliefs, desires and fears about something. For example, my belief that it is raining is about the rain, and my fear of heights it about heights.

• Dualism

• Hypothetical propositions

• Intentionality

• Introspection

The process of looking into your own mind. The direct awareness each of us has of his or her own mental states.

• Dualism

• Hypothetical propositions

• Intentionality

• Introspection

Also known as the principle of the identity of indiscernibles, the law states that no two objects can share all their properties; so that if what appear to be two objects turn out to have all the same properties, then they must be one object.

• Leibniz's Law

• Materialism

• Monism

• Property

A synonym for physicalism. The view that the mind is ultimately material in nature and so is not distinct from the physical body

• Leibniz's Law

• Materialism

• Monism

• Property