Final answer:
The belief that other people have minds is based on intuition, education, and observation, and is often taken for granted. The mind-body problem arises when considering how a non-physical mind could interact with a physical brain, leading to a growing skepticism of dualism. Philosophy and science are moving towards the physicalist view that all mental processes are brain processes, challenging traditional beliefs about the mind.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ordinary people and scientists maintain the belief that other people also have minds through a mix of intuition, education, and observation of behavior that suggests a conscious experience similar to their own. This belief is often taken for granted, meaning it's accepted without questioning its validity. However, the mind-body problem challenges the notion that minds are non-physical entities capable of influencing the physical brain. As more evidence and reasoning come to light, particularly from science and critical thinking, some are beginning to doubt the dualistic view—that the mind and body are distinct.
The skepticism stems from problems with how a non-physical mind could interact with a physical brain. The concept is akin to how people once thought the sun revolved around the Earth because it appeared that way. Just as that belief was challenged and overturned, the belief in a separate mind guiding the body is being reconsidered. Philosophy encourages careful reflection on such beliefs, often revealing inconsistencies or falsities upon closer examination.
While the idea that humans have both a mind and a body is deeply ingrained, growing philosophical and scientific discourse is leading to a paradigm shift. Some philosophers and scientists now argue for physicalism, the view that everything about the mind can be explained by physical processes in the brain, rejecting the need for a separate mind altogether.