Physicalism and the Walking Dead

May 19, 2008

This post is another question and answer post. Phil the Physicalist writes in with a question about the being of zombies:

"Dear Justin,

My name is Phil, and I am studying physicalism in college right now.

Physicalism dictates that everything is physical and in a very real sense the fact that the brain is the "Sum of its parts." What Vonnegut aptly referred to as "a dog’s lunch."

Recently I have been reading a lot of material about the impossibility of zombies from the physicalist’s standpoint.

Physicalism contradicts zombiism. A zombie, which is physically the replica of a normal human, is very different from its original self mentally.

How would you resolved these contradictions?

Thank you,
Phil"

Phil, thanks for writing and thanks for the very good question.

Physicalism, in the zombie argument, is weighing the physical traits of a different kind of zombie. The argument you mention is an attempt to contradict Descartes’ "automata."

Descartes postulated, based on questions of the state of mind of animals, that a world full of human looking creatures - but without the minds to go with the bodies and actions - couldn’t exist.

Physicalism calls into question the possibility of these "automatas." Physicalism is contradicted by the possibility that creatures exactly like humans, physically, could be different from humans in behavior. That is to say the physical imitation dictates that all aspects of the creature would be an imitation.

In other words, it’s impossible to create an exact copy of you without including the mind and behavior that goes with it.

What physicalism is not arguing against is the existence of the undead. And, I think, when you consider a lack of biological circulation, you will agree that the undead zombie is not an exact replica of his living self.

So, don’t worry, Phil, when the undead horde rise from their graves and start eating the flesh of your fellow philosophers you will be able to rest assured in your knowledge that the universe, as you know it, isn’t being called into question.

Posted by flowersjustin | Filed Under Fun