Final answer:
Dualists believe in two separate substances, physical and spiritual, that interact, while synthesists try to unify both perspectives. Dualism, rooted in Descartes' philosophy, is challenged by monism, neuroscience, and the mind-body problem, but dualists insist that their view is essential to explain consciousness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dualists and synthesists hold different perspectives regarding the relationship between mind and body, the physical and the non-physical. Dualists believe in the existence of two separate substances, the physical and the spiritual. This concept is often rooted in the philosophy of Rene Descartes, who argued that the mind (non-physical) and the body (physical) are distinct entities. Dualists maintain that these substances, despite their differences, interact, a point which has been subject to much debate and criticism. On the other hand, synthesists may look for ways to synthesize these perspectives, seeking unified or coherent theories that can accommodate both physical and non-physical explanations of phenomena, especially in the realm of consciousness and free will.
Objectors to dualism raise concerns about how two such distinct substances could interact. They suggest that what seems to be the interaction of a non-physical mind and a physical body may instead be fully explained by brain activity alone. In response, dualists argue that distinguishing between the physical and non-physical is necessary to fully account for human experiences, including consciousness. Dualism thus faces the challenge of providing convincing evidence and reasoning to support the interaction between the mind and body, given the objections raised by neuroscience and monist perspectives, which favor a single-substance view, often materialistic.
Historically, figures like Plato and Aristotle engaged with concepts akin to dualism, debating the reality of immaterial forms versus the primacy of material forms. The mind-body problem, central to dualism, continues to stir philosophical discourse, with dualists needing to defend their view against various challenges, including the monistic stance that all phenomena can be explained by physical, brain-based processes. Even within dualism, questions abound, such as where exactly the soul or mind is located and how it interacts with the body.