The roles of efficient causation and final causation in the double aspect theory of mind
The double aspect theory of mind considers the brain and its actions according to two aspects, the brain and the mind. There is no assignment of causation, there is only correlation. Leibniz's metaphysics, on the other hand, allows for two forms of causation. All bodies have various degrees of each type and his "pre-established harmony" guarantees that no conflicts result. Efficient causation, which is deterministic and therefore not goal-oriented, is characteristic of physical objects such as the brain. At the same time, the state of the brain or nervous system can cause changes in the mind, such as occurs in perception. Final causation is characteristic of mind, which Leibniz stipulates to be present in various degrees in all bodies, even physical bodies. However, it is present to a higher degree in living bodies, such as living brain, plant life, animals and man. What Leibniz calls "Spirit" what we commonly refer to as soul in human monads, which have intellectual faculties. He calls Soul the controlling/perceiving feature of this entity present in animals and plants, and "bare, naked soul" its The physical body, being in spacetime, is what science, such as thermodynamics and the Second Law, deal with, causation is deterministic and the body is propelled by "efficient" causes. The mental or spiritual component of a monad is not physical and so is not controlled and not controls by its "perspections" and "appetites", the former being its overall state (where and how it is mentally or spiritually) and the latter its intentions, desires, where it intends to go next. Where it intends to go next, since it is alive, is goal-oriented or purposeful to various degrees, so that most human mental action, such as thinking, must be goal-oriented to some extend. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to everything-list+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to everything-list@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list?hl=en. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
