Non-reductive Physicalism, Irreducibility of the Mental and the Problem of Mental Causation : A study of Donald Davidson's and Georg Henrik von Wright's positions in the philosophy of mind

In this study I consider what kind of perspective on the mind body problem is taken and can be taken by a philosophical position called non-reductive physicalism. Many positions fall under this label. The form of non-reductive physicalism which I discuss is in essential respects the position taken by Donald Davidson (1917-2003) and Georg Henrik von Wright (1916-2003). I defend their positions and discuss the unrecognized similarities between their views. Non-reductive physicalism combines two theses: (a) Everything that exists is physical; (b) Mental phenomena cannot be reduced to the states of the brain. This means that according to non-reductive physicalism the mental aspect of humans (be it a soul, mind, or spirit) is an irreducible part of the human condition. Also Davidson and von Wright claim that, in some important sense, the mental aspect of a human being does not reduce to the physical aspect, that there is a gap between these aspects that cannot be closed. I claim that their arguments for this conclusion are convincing. I also argue that whereas von Wright and Davidson give interesting arguments for the irreducibility of the mental, their physicalism is unwarranted. These philosophers do not give good reasons for believing that reality is thoroughly physical. Notwithstanding the materialistic consensus in the contemporary philosophy of mind the ontology of mind is still an uncharted territory where real breakthroughs are not to be expected until a radically new ontological position is developed. The third main claim of this work is that the problem of mental causation cannot be solved from the Davidsonian - von Wrightian perspective. The problem of mental causation is the problem of how mental phenomena like beliefs can cause physical movements of the body. As I see it, the essential point of non-reductive physicalism - the irreducibility of the mental - and the problem of mental causation are closely related. If mental phenomena do not reduce to causally effective states of the brain, then what justifies the belief that mental phenomena have causal powers? If mental causes do not reduce to physical causes, then how to tell when - or whether - the mental causes in terms of which human actions are explained are actually effective? I argue that this - how to decide when mental causes really are effective - is the real problem of mental causation. The motivation to explore and defend a non-reductive position stems from the belief that reductive physicalism leads to serious ethical problems. My claim is that Davidson's and von Wright's ultimate reason to defend a non-reductive view comes back to their belief that a reductive understanding of human nature would be a narrow and possibly harmful perspective. The final conclusion of my thesis is that von Wright's and Davidson's positions provide a starting point from which the current scientistic philosophy of mind can be critically further explored in the future.

Sakari Kukko - elämä, ura ja tuotanto : Pala suomalaisen populaarimusiikin historiaa vuodesta 1953 nykypäiviin

Pro gradu -tutkielmassani paneudun yhden suomalaisen populaarimusiikin toimijan elämään, uraan, tuotantoon sekä hänen käsityksiinsä musiikista ja musiikintekemisestä. Tutkimukseni on suomalaisen populaarimusiikin historian perustutkimusta Sakari Kukon henkilöhistorian kautta. Tutkimuskysymyksiäni ovat: 1. Kuinka Sakari Kukosta tuli muusikko ja musiikintekijä? 2. Minkälainen on ja on ollut hänen tapansa toimia? Vastaan edellisiin kysymyksiin, mutta sijoitan vastaukset myös ajallisesti suomalaiseen musiikki- ja yhteiskuntakontekstiin. Ongelmanasettelu tähtää siihen, että selvitän sekä Kukon omat sisäiset motiivit ja päämäärät muusikkona ja musiikintekijänä että hänen ympäristönsä tarjoamat virikkeet ja vaikutteet. Ongelman ratkaisemiseksi kartoitan hänen elämänvaiheensa lapsuudesta tähän päivään, ympäristöt, joissa hän on kulloinkin toiminut sekä ne yhteiskunnalliset tilanteet, joihin hänen ja hänen ympäristönsä toiminta on sijoittunut. Tutkimus sijoittuu vuosien 1953 ja 2003 väliselle ajalle. Kuvailen Kukon tuotantoa levy levyltä edeten kronologisesti vuosikymmenittäin. Lisäksi kokoan tuotannon yhteen ja etsin hänen säveltämästään, sovittamastaan ja esittämästään musiikista muutamia erityisen vahvoja elementtejä. Tuloksena esittelen kahdeksan kategoriaa, joista jokainen on yhdistettävissä hänen elämänvaiheisiinsa ja asetettavissa vuorovaikutukseen lähiympäristön kanssa. Tutkielmassani käytän apuna mikrohistoriallista tutkimusotetta, joka sopii mainiosti työni toteuttamiseen. Tutkimusaineisto on hyvin laaja ja monipuolinen, ja olen poiminut tietoja muun muassa lehtiartikkeleista, arkistoista, levyjen kansista, festivaaliesitteistä ja kirjallisuudesta; kaikista ei löydy edes mainintaa päivästä, vuodesta tai kirjoittajasta. Tärkein aineistoni on kuitenkin muistinvarainen tieto eli Kukon haastattelumateriaali. Mikrohistorialliseen tutkimusotteeseen nojaten olen päässyt Kukon henkilöhistorian kautta käsiksi hieman yleisemmänkin tason asioihin ja ilmiöihin. Olen selvittänyt muun muassa Kajaani Big Bandin vaiheita 1950-luvulta 1970-luvulle sekä suomalaisen pop/jazz -koulutuksen kehitystä erilaisista musiikkileireistä Sibelius-Akatemian oppiaineeksi samalla, kun olen selvittänyt Kukon kehitystä muusikoksi. Lisäksi olen esitellyt esimerkiksi studiomuusikkoutta 1970-luvun Suomessa sekä senegalilaisen musiikkielämän piirteitä 1970- ja 1980-lukujen taitteessa. Mikrohistorioitsija Carlo Ginzburgin johtolanka-ajatusta mukaillen olen koonnut pienistä tiedon palasista, johtolangoista kokonaiskertomuksen. Avainsanat: Sakari Kukko, Piirpauke, suomalainen populaarimusiikki, jazz, mikrohistoria, henkilöhistoria

Koko talo soi : Klemetti-Opisto suomalaisen musiikkikulttuurin kehittäjänä 1953-1968

This study aims to examine the operations and significance of the Klemetti Institute (Klemetti-Opisto) as a developer of Finnish music culture from 1953 to 1968 during the term of office of the Institute s founder and first director, Arvo Vainio. The Klemetti Institute was originally established as a choir institute, but soon expanded to offer a wide range of music courses. In addition to providing courses for choir leaders and singers, the Institute began its orchestral activities as early as the mid-1950s. Other courses included ear training seminars as well as courses for young people s music instructors and in playing the kantele (a Finnish string instrument) and solo singing. More than 20 types of courses were offered over the 16-year period. The Klemetti Institute s courses were incorporated into the folk high school courses offered by the Orivesi Institute (Oriveden Opisto) and were organised during the summer months of June and July. In addition to funding based on the Folk High School Act, financial assistance was obtained from various foundations and funds, such as the Wihuri Foundation. This study is linked to the context of historical research. I examine the Klemetti Institute s operations chronologically, classifying instruction into different course types, and analyse concert activities primarily in the section on the Institute s student union. The source material includes the Klemetti Institute archives, which consist of Arvo Vainio s correspondence, student applications, register books and cards, journals and student lists, course albums and nearly all issues of the Klemettiläinen bulletin. In addition, I have used focused interviews and essays to obtain extensive data from students and teachers. I concentrate on primary school teachers, who accounted for the majority of course participants. A total of more than 2,300 people participated in the courses, nearly half of whom took courses during at least two summers. Primary school teachers accounted for 50% to 70% of the participants in most courses and constituted an even larger share of participants in some courses, such as the music instructor course. The Klemetti Institute contributed to the expansion throughout Finland of a new ideal for choral tone. This involved delicate singing which strives for tonal purity and expressiveness. Chamber choirs had been virtually unheard of in Finland, but the Klemetti Institute Chamber Choir popularised them. Chamber choirs are characterised by an extensive singing repertoire ranging from the Middle Ages to the present. As the name suggests, chamber choirs were originally rather small mixed choirs. Delicate singing meant the avoidance of extensive vibrato techniques and strong, heavy forte sounds, which had previously been typical of Finnish choirs. Those opposing and shunning this new manner of singing called it ghost singing . The Klemetti Institute s teachers included Finland s most prominent pedagogues and artists. As the focused essays, or reminiscences as I call them, show, their significance for the students was central. I examine extensively the Klemetti Institute s enthusiastic atmosphere, which during the early years was characterised by what some writers described as a hunger for music . In addition to distributing a new tonal ideal and choir repertoire, the Klemetti Institute also distributed new methods of music education, thus affecting the music teaching of Finnish primary schools, in particular. The Orff approach, which included various instruments, became well known, although some of Orff s ideas, such as improvisation and physical exercise, were initially unfamiliar. More important than the Orff approach was the in-depth teaching at the Klemetti Institute of the Hungarian ear training method known as the Kodály method. Many course participants were among those launching specialist music classes in schools, and the method became the foundation for music teaching in many such schools. The Klemetti Institute was also a pioneer in organising orchestra camps for young people. The Klemetti Institute promoted Finnish music culture and played an important role in the continuing music education of primary school teachers. Keywords: adult education, Grundtvigian philosophy, popular enlightenment, Klemetti Institute, Kodály method, choir singing, choir conducting, music history, music education, music culture, music camp, Orff approach, Orff-Schulwerk, Orivesi Institute, instrument teaching, free popular education, communality, solo singing, voice production

Kutsu kuuliaisuuteen : James I. Packerin liittonomistinen raamattukäsitys

This dissertation examines James I. Packer s view of the Bible as the book of God s revelation. However, this study could not be complete without discussion of his background ideas about God, man and the foundations of theology. The research method used in this dissertation is systematic analysis. I analyse key theological concepts in the data, such as inerrancy, God s word and the covenant of grace, and examine Packer s concepts primarily in the context of the reformed tradition that he represents. Although the dissertation presents the philosophical premises of Packer s thought, the focus is on an analysis of theological concepts. Packer claims to approach theological issues broadly and to reject legalism. However, he also considers Calvinist thinking to be best suited to theological work and emphasises the central role of law in his view of the Bible. My dissertation pays particular attention to the status of law in Packer s theology and especially in the covenant of grace. The dissertation shows that the fundamental theological structure of Packer s view of the Bible is based on Puritan covenant theology, which consists of the temporally successive covenant of works and covenant of grace. Covenant theology stresses the connection and friendship between God and man. Man s highest goal according to the Westminster Confession of Faith (1647) is to glorify the triune God and to rejoice in him for all eternity. After the fall of man, this friendship between God and man can only take place in the covenant of grace. For Packer, the covenant of grace encompasses not only the time of the Gospel, but also the time of the law before the Gospel. Consequently, the covenant of grace incorporates in its very essence the demand of obedience to God s law. Covenant theology forms the foundation for both his view of the Bible and his idea that a believer lives in a covenant of grace, the key aspects of which are God s commandments and man s works. Law and the Gospel are not considered fundamental opposites in the covenant of grace, unlike in justification. In the covenant of grace, man has become God s friend who obeys the law as the law of Christ in a way which differs from Luther s view of obedience to the faith . For Packer, covenant theology is a Puritan instrument to link predestination and sanctification. Works committed in obedience show that the believer belongs to the covenant of grace and will be among the saved. Although voluntary obedience to God s commandments is not a direct instrument to achieve salvation, it is a pivotal sign of predestination. God calls the predestined to salvation with an effectual calling, the reliable message of the Bible. In sanctification, God guides a believer living in the context of covenantal nomism. In that sense, the Bible is above all an instrument of law guided by reason. In man s obedience, God completes man s nature and restores the imago Dei in man.