Overview Anomalous monism

the classic identity theory , anomalous monism in contrast. identity theory, every token instantiation of single mental type corresponds (as indicated arrows) physical token of single physical type. hence there type-identity. anomalous monism, token-token correspondences can fall outside of type-type correspondences. result token identity.

considering views relation between mental , physical distinguished first whether or not mental entities identical physical entities, , second whether or not there strict psychophysical laws, arrive @ fourfold classification: (1) nomological monism, says there strict correlating laws, , correlated entities identical (this called type physicalism); (2) nomological dualism, holds there strict correlating laws, correlated entities not identical (parallelism , pre-established harmony); (3) anomalous dualism, holds there no laws correlating mental , physical, , substances ontologically distinct (i.e. cartesian dualism); , (4) anomalous monism, allows 1 class of entities, denies possibility of definitional , nomological reduction. davidson put forth theory of anomalous monism possible solution mind–body problem.

since (in theory) every mental event physical event or other, idea s thinking @ time, example, snow white, pattern of neural firing in brain @ time, event can characterized both thinking snow white (a type of mental event) , pattern of neural firing (a type of physical event). there 1 event can characterized both in mental terms , in physical terms. if mental events physical events, can @ least in principle explained , predicted, physical events, on basis of laws of physical science. however, according anomalous monism, events cannot explained or predicted described in mental terms (such thinking , desiring etc.), described in physical terms: distinctive feature of thesis brand of physical monism.