Abstract

This paper proposes to use Bayesian methodologies as a novel route to address the long-standing philosophical issue known as the mind-body problem. In particular, we aim to tackle two significant challenges that have traditionally plagued canonical theories of the mind: the explanatory gap and the interaction problem, respectively. Physicalist theories struggle with the explanatory gap, i.e., the inability to explain how subjective experiences arise from physical processes. On the other hand, dualistic theories, which posit that the mind and body are distinct yet interacting entities, face the interaction problem, i.e., the difficulty of explaining how the immaterial mind can influence the physical body and vice versa. This paper leverages the Bayesian frameworks ability to handle uncertainty and inferential thinking to resolve these long standing problems. It reframes the explanatory gap, proposing that consciousness exists on a continuum in the integrated information sense rather than as a binary, thus eliminating the need to explain the sudden emergence of consciousness from physical processes. As for the interaction problem, the Bayesian approach can be used to model the mind-body interaction as a dynamic, bi-directional information exchange. This allows for a more flexible understanding of the interaction between mind and body, sidestepping the need for a direct, mechanistic explanation of how an immaterial entity can influence a physical one or vice versa. Thus this paper seeks to point out the promising nature of a Bayesian approach to the mind body problem in order to seek further future philosophical, computational, and neuroscientific research within this area.