The Identity Theory
The Identity TheoryThe identity theory, also known as reductive materialism, is one of the views
Churchland uses to describe mind-brain correlation. Churchland believes that
the mental states of the body are one and in the same (double aspectism) with
brain states. They are the same because the biochemical actions produced in
brain states (release of serotonin and acetylcholine) have direct interaction with
the mental states (mood disorders such as depression). With the help of
psychological and physiological evidence the identity theory can be better
supported. It has not yet been proven but following along with the symptoms,
diagnosis, and treatment of biochemical disorders of the brain the identity theory
has a strong case towards becoming reality.
Reductive materialism is known to be the reducing of mental activity into
physical activity. In its simplest form thoughts are just states of the brain. This is
basically a similar form of Descartes line, “I think, therefore I am” or vice versa.
Churchland first tries to parallel the identity theory with sound and light.
“We now know that sound is just a train of compression waves traveling through
the air…” (BR323). Society does know or has some common sense notion of
how sound travels, yet we still consider it just “sound”. Even though we are not
automatically thinking when we here a sound, “it is waves traveling through air”,
we are aware to the fact that is how sound travels. This parallelism is
intertheoretic reduction; taking an older version of reductive materialism and
using it to help explain a newer version, Churchland’s identity theory.
Neural activity and neuroscience play a major role in the identity theory.
“…the correct account of human-behavior-and-its-causes must reside in the
physical neurosciences” (MR324). Neurosciences and cognitive psychology
have been used together to explain brain states and mental states correlation.
“And those behavior-controlling internal operations are precisely what the
neurosciences are about” (BR324). Neuroscience is described as being
behavior that which is a result of neural activity in the brain (i.e. consciousness).
This consciousness is a result of neural activity in the brain producing thoughts
and then behavior.
The identity theorist resides on simplicity to describe mental/brain states
“…from the neural dependence of all known mental phenomena…” (TL325).
Once thought of as mental disorders, forms of depression are now recognized as
brain disorders. Understanding the biochemical determinants and the function of
the brain has helped to draw this conclusion. Biochemical changes in the brain
cause a person to fall into a depressed state. These brain states are the release
of low levels of the...
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