Ep. 398: Donald Davidson on Mind vs. Body (Part One) episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 17, 2026 · 52 MIN

Ep. 398: Donald Davidson on Mind vs. Body (Part One)

from The Partially Examined Life · host Mark Linsenmayer

On "Mental Events" (1970) and "Actions, Reasons, and Causes" (1963), w/ guest Chris Heath. When we talk about mental events (e.g. desires) causing physical occurrences (an action to obtain what is desired), are we giving a causal picture in the scientific sense, which would rule out free will? Or are reason-giving and causality just different language games? Get more at partiallyexaminedlife.com. Visit partiallyexaminedlife.com/support to get ad-free episodes and tons of bonus discussion. Sponsor: Every self-made person started somewhere. Yours starts free at shopify.com/pel. Learn about Mark's fall philosophy of mind class at partiallyexaminedlife.com/class.

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Ep. 398: Donald Davidson on Mind vs. Body (Part One)

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