A Simple Proof of Mind-Body Dualism
11 Pages Posted: 7 Jul 2010 Last revised: 8 Feb 2011
Date Written: July 7, 2010
Abstract
This paper provides an elegant proof of mind-body dualism. I show, first, that all properties known to humankind, aside from qualitative properties of consciousness (and perhaps numerical properties), are fundamentally relational in nature. I then show that relational properties are, at least in principle, always fully describable in language. Finally, I point out that qualitative properties of consciousness are clearly not fully describable in ordinary language. Thus, qualitative properties of consciousness are fundamentally different than all other properties known to humankind: they are fundamentally intrinsic properties that stand outside of the realm of scientific inquiry.
Keywords: mind, body, dualism, description, physical, nonphysical
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