Frank Jackson's famous 'Mary's Room' Thought Experiment

Jeffrey Kaplan・2 minutes read

Mary's Room thought experiment challenges physicalism by demonstrating that there is non-physical information beyond the physical realm, refuting the belief that all correct information is physical information. Epiphenomenalism suggests that mental stuff, while non-physical, is merely a byproduct of physical events and does not cause any physical occurrences, challenging traditional views on consciousness and human behavior.

Insights

  • Mary's Room, introduced by Frank Jackson, illustrates that despite knowing all physical information about color vision, experiencing color for the first time reveals new non-physical knowledge, contradicting physicalism's claim that all correct information is physical.
  • Epiphenomenalism, as discussed by Jackson, challenges traditional views on consciousness by proposing that mental experiences are byproducts without causal impact on physical events, fundamentally altering our understanding of how mental states relate to physical actions.

Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free

Recent questions

  • What is Mary's Room thought experiment?

    Mary's Room is a philosophical scenario where a scientist named Mary is confined in a black and white room, learning all physical information about color vision. Despite knowing every physical fact, when she exits the room and sees color for the first time, she gains new knowledge. This experiment challenges the idea of physicalism, suggesting there is non-physical information beyond the physical realm.

  • What does Jackson's argument target?

    Jackson's argument targets physicalism in terms of information rather than objects in the universe. He challenges the belief that all correct information is physical information, as demonstrated through Mary's Room thought experiment. By highlighting the existence of non-physical knowledge, Jackson questions the limitations of physicalism.

  • How does epiphenomenalism challenge traditional views?

    Epiphenomenalism challenges traditional views on consciousness by proposing that mental experiences are byproducts that do not cause further actions. This concept suggests that mental states do not have a causal impact on physical events, presenting a version of physicalism where mental events are not spatial and do not influence the physical world directly.

  • What is Princess Elizabeth's problem?

    Princess Elizabeth's problem challenges Descartes' idea of the mind-body distinction by pointing out the impossibility of non-physical mental stuff causing physical events. She highlights the lack of physical presence of mental states to interact with the physical world, questioning the concept of non-physical entities influencing physical occurrences.

  • How does epiphenomenalism impact human behavior explanations?

    Epiphenomenalism presents a radical concept that denies the common belief that mental states cause physical actions, challenging the fundamental way we explain human behavior. By suggesting that most assumptions about mental causation are false, this theory forces a reevaluation of how we understand interactions and behaviors, emphasizing the complex relationship between mental and physical phenomena.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

Challenging Physicalism: Mary's Room Experiment

  • Mary's Room is a philosophical example introduced by Frank Jackson in the 1980s, challenging physicalism.
  • Physicalism posits that all in the universe, including mental aspects, is physical.
  • Jackson's thought experiment involves Mary, a scientist in a black and white room, learning all physical information about color vision.
  • Despite knowing all physical facts, when Mary exits the room and sees color for the first time, she learns something new.
  • This new knowledge implies there is non-physical information, refuting physicalism.
  • Jackson defines physicalism as the belief that all correct information is physical information.
  • Mary's experience highlights that there is information beyond the physical realm.
  • Jackson's argument targets physicalism in terms of information rather than objects in the universe.
  • Jackson's approach differs from Thomas Nagel's, focusing on qualia rather than epistemic perspectives.
  • Epiphenomenalism, as discussed by Jackson, refers to mental experiences as byproducts that do not cause further actions, challenging traditional views on consciousness.

17:08

"Epiphenomenalism challenges Descartes' mind-body distinction"

  • Princess Elizabeth's problem challenges Descartes' idea that the mind and body are distinct, pointing out the impossibility of non-physical mental stuff causing physical events in the world due to the lack of physical presence to interact with the physical world.
  • Epiphenomenalism offers a solution by suggesting that mental stuff, though non-physical, is merely a byproduct of physical events and does not cause any physical occurrences, presenting a version of physicalism where mental events are not spatial and do not have a causal impact on the physical world.
  • Epiphenomenalism is a radical concept that denies the common belief that mental states cause physical actions, challenging the fundamental way we explain human behavior and interactions, suggesting that most of our everyday assumptions about mental causation are false.
Channel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatar

Try it yourself — It’s free.