Watch Mind-Body Philosophy

Name: Mind-Body Philosophy
Released: 2017-01-06
Cast: Patrick Grim

2017
1 Season

Mind-Body Philosophy is a fascinating exploration of the relationship between the mind and the body, taught by renowned philosophy professor Patrick Grim. Presented as part of The Great Courses Signature Collection, this series is designed for anyone with an interest in philosophy, psychology, or neuroscience, and it offers a balanced blend of theory, history, and practical application.

Over the course of 24 lectures, Grim guides viewers through a wide range of philosophical and scientific theories about how the mind and body interact. He begins with an overview of the mind-body problem, which asks how it is possible for two fundamentally different things (mind and body) to interact with each other. He then dives deep into a number of specific theories, including dualism, materialism, and behaviorism. Along the way, he provides historical context for each theory, showing how different cultures and eras have wrestled with these questions.

Beyond merely presenting different theories about the mind-body relationship, Grim also delves into the practical implications of these theories. He explores how different perspectives on the mind-body relationship can impact topics like free will, ethics, and medicine. For example, he discusses how materialist theories might give rise to a more deterministic understanding of human behavior, whereas dualist theories might open the door to the possibility of supernatural intervention.

One of the most engaging aspects of Grim's teaching style is his ability to present complex material in an accessible and engaging way. He uses plenty of real-world examples throughout the series, drawing from fields as diverse as psychology, neuroscience, and literature. This helps to ground the theories he presents in concrete, relatable terms, and it ensures that viewers won't get lost in the abstract.

Another strength of the series is the way Grim blends different disciplines together. He draws heavily from the history of philosophy, but he also incorporates insights from contemporary psychology and neuroscience research. This interdisciplinary approach helps viewers to see the mind-body problem from a variety of angles, and it emphasizes the idea that this is a problem that can't be solved by philosophy alone.

Throughout the series, Grim emphasizes the importance of remaining open-minded and curious. He doesn't claim to have all the answers to the mind-body problem, and he encourages viewers to think critically about the different theories presented. Ultimately, he suggests that the key to understanding the mind-body relationship lies in recognizing that it is an ongoing conversation, one that continues to evolve as our understanding of the brain and the body grows.

Overall, Mind-Body Philosophy is an engrossing and thought-provoking series that offers a deep dive into one of the most fundamental questions of human existence. Through Patrick Grim's skilled teaching and wide-ranging exploration of different theories and disciplines, viewers are sure to come away from this series with a deeper appreciation of both the complexity of the mind-body relationship and the ways in which different theories can impact our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Mind-Body Philosophy is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (24 episodes). The series first aired on January 6, 2017.

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Seasons

24. A Philosophical Science of Consciousness?

January 6, 2017

If the fields of brain science, philosophy, and artificial intelligence alone cannot adequately explain the relationship between body, mind, and consciousness, where should we look for answers? Explore an exciting step-by-step approach that could lead to a richer understanding of the process of consciousness and its evolutionary benefit.

23. Consciousness and the Explanatory Gap

January 6, 2017

What is consciousness? Some scientists describe it as a result of emergence, much as "wet" emerges from a particular combination of hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Others propose that neuroscience will answer the question - or already has. But is it possible that the human mind will never be able to fully understand its own consciousness?

22. Thought Experiments against Materialism

January 6, 2017

Physicists and philosophers have relied on thought experiments for thousands of years. But how can we know that the conclusions of thought experiments are correct? Learn what Leibniz' "giant head" and Searle's "Chinese room" can tell us about materialism - and about the potential limits of our own imaginations.

21. Of Mind, Materialism, and Zombies

January 6, 2017

Distinguished philosophers and scientists have put forth their theories about the mind, brain, and consciousness. But each of us has our own views, too. "Zombie thought experiments" can help identify and clarify your personal views. Are you a materialist, a reductionist, an anti-behaviorist, a dualist? Find out with the aid of your zombie scorecard.

20. Clues on Consciousness from Anesthesiology

January 6, 2017

Is it possible to be certain that an anesthetized patient who seems to be unconscious during surgery really feels no pain? Our current knowledge of the brain, anesthetics, and consciousness at the physiological level, lead us to believe in the possibility of building a "consciousness monitor." But would even that answer the question?

19. Francis Crick and Binding in the Brain

January 6, 2017

After co-discovering the structure of DNA, Francis Crick turned his research attention to mind-body issues. He believed in an underlying physical structure of consciousness. Was he correct? Learn about Crick's spatial and temporal hypotheses, the binding problem, and the reasons he pinned his research hopes on the brain's claustrum.

18. Thinking Body and Extended Mind

January 6, 2017

We believe our thinking occurs in our head. But that's not entirely correct. In some cases, cognition requires the mind and the body. Learn how the autonomic, sympathetic, and enteric nervous systems are linked to the brain, integrated into the body, and even connected to the outside world.

17. A Guided Tour of the Brain

January 6, 2017

We've made great strides in understanding the workings of the human brain - from our hundred billion neurons and trillions of synapses, to more than fifty neurotransmitters. We've mapped the brain and described each part's functions, evolutionary history, and methods of processing information. What have we not "found?" Consciousness.

16. Computational Approaches to the Mind

January 6, 2017

Since the development of computers, philosophers and scientists have wondered what we could learn about our own intelligence by building intelligent machines. What would a deeper understanding of computerized information processing teach us about the brain? Learn how these lines of inquiry have led to revelations about the differences between mind and machine.

15. Could a Machine Be Conscious?

January 6, 2017

Twentieth-century mathematicians Alan Turing and Ludwig Wittgenstein both asked: "Could machines think?" Learn how they addressed the complex concepts of language, thinking, intelligence, and consciousness. All contemporary computers and the fields of artificial intelligence and neural networks trace their origin to Turing. But Wittgenstein seems to have the last word.

14. Emotions: Where Mind and Body Meet

January 6, 2017

We all know emotions can affect the body - e.g., heart-pounding fear, tears of joy. But can the physical body affect emotions as well? And could emotions be a requirement for rationality itself? You'll be surprised by the latest research on the very complex relationships between body, mind, and emotions.

13. The Enigma of Free Will

January 6, 2017

Our daily experiences tell us we are acting with a free will. But you'll be surprised to learn what quantum mechanics and the latest studies in readiness potential reveal about our decision making. Is it possible that scientific inquiry is just not germane to the ongoing philosophical conundrum of free will and determinism?

12. Rival Psychologies of the Mind

January 6, 2017

William James, Sigmund Freud, and Wilhelm Wundt all aimed for a science of consciousness in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, differing significantly in ideas and methodology. Learn why Wundt left the strongest mark on contemporary psychology, with the neuroscience revolution of the early 21st century picking up where he left off.

11. Self-Consciousness and the Self

January 6, 2017

Throughout the centuries, philosophers and scientists have tried to come to a definitive understanding of the self and self-consciousness - and failed. The exciting intellectual journey through these theories and experiments will lead you to a new way of seeing yourself and the world around you.

10. Memory, Mind, and Brain

January 6, 2017

Philosopher John Locke suggested it is your continuous sequence of memories that allows you to be "you." But what is memory and how is it related to our emotions and dreams? Learn about the many different ways in which the brain stores the information we later retrieve and experience as memory.

9. Altered States of Consciousness

January 6, 2017

Learn what dreams, lucid dreams, hallucinations, and other altered states teach us about brain structure and function. Why do so many hallucinations include the same geometric shapes? And after thousands of years of inquiry, do we finally understand the purpose of our dreams? Do dreams help us remember - or forget?

8. Strange Cases of Consciousness

January 6, 2017

The study of individuals with unusual brains - e.g., those with split brains, color-blindness, face-blindness, synesthesia - has revealed brain modularity, differentiation, blending, and other mechanisms of consciousness. Do we really see with our eyes? Learn how the brain's organization affects even our most basic perception of the world around us.

7. Mistakes about Our Own Consciousness

January 6, 2017

One thing we know we can count on is the validity of our everyday experiences. After all, we know what we see, hear, feel, and think on a daily basis, right? You'll be surprised to learn how wrong we can be even about the realm of experience itself and our own everyday consciousness.

6. How Descartes Divided Mental from Physical

January 6, 2017

How can you know with absolute certainty that you exist? Rene Descartes famously answered: "I think; therefore I am." He also suggested a complete split between the mind and the physical body. The vast and sharply divided responses to Descartes' dualism still influence the ways in which we address the mind-body problem today.

5. History of the Soul

January 6, 2017

While the concept of the soul has been of great philosophical importance over the millennia, it is not addressed by contemporary brain science or philosophy of the mind. Learn why William James encouraged people to believe in the soul if they wanted to, but "exiled" the subject from the concerns of modern psychology.

4. Using the Body to Shape the Mind

January 6, 2017

We tend to think of the mind being in charge of, and giving instructions to, the body. But is it possible for the body to direct the mind? Learn how the Eastern practical disciplines of yoga and meditation and Western habits of physical exercise can affect the brain and the mind.

3. Eastern Perspectives on Mind and Body

January 6, 2017

Western philosophers want to understand how the physical brain produces the reality of subjective experience. But Hindu and Buddhist traditions don't recognize that same dualism. Unlike the Western attempt to discover the truth of how things are, Eastern philosophy takes a more practical line of inquiry, examining how to best live.

2. Mind and Body in Greek Philosophy

January 6, 2017

Humans have been asking this question for thousands of years: exactly how are we related to the world around us? Learn what modern Western thought inherited from the Greeks and how the theories of Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle still affect our thinking and questioning today.

1. Mind, Body, and Questions of Consciousness

January 6, 2017

The 3.5 pounds of gray matter in your skull processes all the information you need to live and thrive - from the functioning of your physical body to your relationships with loved ones. But how can the physical matter of the brain create the subjective experience of your life? That is the mind-body problem.#Music, Philosophy & Religion

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Where to Watch Mind-Body Philosophy

Mind-Body Philosophy is available for streaming on the The Great Courses Signature Collection website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Mind-Body Philosophy on demand at Amazon Prime, Amazon and Hoopla.