About this video

• Video Title: 2. The nature of persons: dualism vs. physicalism
• Channel: YaleCourses
• Speakers: Professor Shelly Kagan
• Duration: 00:41:38

Overview

This video explores the philosophical question of personal identity, specifically whether a person can survive their own death. Professor Shelly Kagan introduces two main metaphysical positions on what a person is: dualism, which posits that persons are composed of both a physical body and an immaterial soul, and physicalism, which asserts that persons are solely physical bodies capable of complex functions. The lecture also addresses an objection to the question of life after death based on the definition of death and survival.

Key takeaways

• The core question: The central philosophical inquiry is whether a person can survive their own death, which hinges on understanding what a person is and what it means to survive.
• Objection to the question: A common objection argues that the question of life after death is inherently contradictory, defining death as the end of life, thus making "life after death" an illogical concept.
• Dualism vs. Physicalism:
  • Dualism: Proposes that humans are composed of two distinct substances: a physical body and an immaterial soul. This view offers a potential explanation for survival after bodily death, as the soul could persist independently.
  • Physicalism: Argues that persons are entirely physical beings, and all mental capacities (thinking, feeling, etc.) are functions of the physical body. This view challenges the notion of survival after bodily death.
• Clarifying "Death": To engage with the question coherently, "death" is refined to mean the cessation of bodily functions, allowing for the possibility of continued existence beyond this physical end.
• The nature of the "self": The discussion emphasizes that understanding personal identity requires clarifying whether we are fundamentally our bodies, our souls, or a combination, and how this relates to the possibility of surviving death.

About this video

• Video Title: 2. The nature of persons: dualism vs. physicalism
• Channel: YaleCourses
• Speakers: Professor Shelly Kagan
• Duration: 00:41:38

Overview

This video delves into the philosophical debate surrounding personal identity and the possibility of surviving death. Professor Shelly Kagan introduces two primary metaphysical perspectives on the nature of a person: dualism and physicalism. Dualism posits that a person is comprised of a physical body and a non-physical soul, which could potentially endure after the body's demise. Physicalism, conversely, asserts that a person is solely a physical entity, a complex body with various functions, and therefore cannot survive the death of that body. The lecture also examines and refutes a common objection that the question of "life after death" is logically flawed due to the definition of death itself.

Key takeaways

• The central inquiry into personal identity and survival: The primary focus of the lecture is the question of whether an individual can continue to exist after their physical death. This existential question, the speaker argues, is fundamentally tied to understanding what constitutes a person at their core—what are we made of, and what are our essential components? To address the possibility of surviving death, one must first grapple with the metaphysical nature of a person.
• The definitional objection to "life after death": The video presents a philosophical objection that challenges the very framing of the question "Is there life after death?". This objection, based on a common understanding of death as the "end of life," argues that asking if there is life after the end of life is a nonsensical or trivial question, akin to asking if there's food left on a plate after one has finished eating. The speaker acknowledges this objection but suggests it can be overcome by refining the question.
• Dualism: The body-soul distinction: This perspective, often referred to as Cartesian dualism, posits that a person is a composite of two distinct substances: a material body and an immaterial soul (or mind). The soul is considered the seat of consciousness, thought, and personality. The crucial aspect for the question of survival is that the soul, being immaterial, is not subject to the same physical decay as the body. Therefore, the death of the body does not necessarily entail the death of the soul, opening a theoretical possibility for the soul's continued existence.
• Physicalism: The body as the person: In contrast to dualism, physicalism (or materialism) maintains that a person is nothing more than their physical body. The complex abilities we associate with personhood—thinking, feeling, reasoning, creating—are understood as sophisticated functions or processes of the body. From this viewpoint, there is no separate, immaterial soul; the person ceases to exist when the body dies, as there is no other component to survive.
• Reframing the question for coherence: To circumvent the definitional objection and engage with the survival question meaningfully, the speaker suggests redefining "death" as the cessation of bodily functions rather than the absolute end of existence. This allows for a coherent question: "Might I still exist after the death of my body?" The answer to this refined question, the speaker argues, depends heavily on one's metaphysical stance—whether one is a dualist or a physicalist.

Ask me anything about this video

1. How does Professor Kagan redefine "death" to make the question of survival a coherent philosophical inquiry, and what are the two main metaphysical positions he presents in response?
2. What is the argument behind the objection that the question "Is there life after death?" is fundamentally flawed, and how does the speaker suggest this objection can be addressed?
3. Elaborate on the dualist perspective: what does it claim about the composition of a person, and why does this view make the possibility of surviving bodily death seem plausible?
4. Explain the physicalist perspective on personhood: what does it propose as the essential nature of a person, and what are the implications for the idea of surviving death according to this view?
5. Turn this video into a tweet...

The teacher, Professor Shelly Kagan, mentions the following philosopher:

• Jay Rosenberg: Mentioned as the author of a reading that presents a version of the objection to the entire enterprise of discussing life after death.
• Plato: Mentioned in the context of the third question (immortality of the soul) and the dialogue Phaedo, which argues for the immortality of the soul.