Introduction
- F. Strawson developed the concept of Person in his famous essay “Persons” (1959), where he tried to resolve the traditional philosophical problem of the mind–body relationship. Traditional philosophy often treated mind and body as two separate substances (as in Descartes’ dualism), but Strawson argued that this division is mistaken. According to him, a person is not a combination of two separate entities (mind and body), but a basic unit to which both mental and physical predicates apply.
Thus, Strawson’s theory is known as the Theory of Person as a Basic Particular.
The Problem of Mind and Body
Before Strawson, philosophers like René Descartes believed in substance dualism, which means:
- Mind is a thinking substance
- Body is a physical substance
- Both are separate entities
This created the mind–body problem: How do mind and body interact if they are different substances?
Strawson rejected this approach and argued that we should not start with mind and body as separate substances. Instead, we should start with the concept of person.
Strawson’s Concept of Person
Person as a Basic Particular
Strawson defines a person as:
“A type of entity to which both physical and mental predicates are ascribed.”
This means:
- Physical properties → height, weight, colour, movement
- Mental properties → thinking, feeling, remembering, deciding
Both types of properties belong to one entity, and that entity is called a person.
So, a person is:
- Not just a body
- Not just a mind
- But a single unified being
Basic Particular
Strawson calls a person a basic particular, meaning:
- A person is a fundamental entity
- Mind and body are not separate substances
- They are attributes of the same person
In simple words:
We do not say:
- “My body is walking and my mind is thinking”
We say: - “I am walking”
- “I am thinking”
So, the subject of both mental and physical actions is the same person.
Mental and Physical Predicates
What are Predicates?
Predicates are qualities or properties that we attribute to something.
| Physical Predicates | Mental Predicates |
| Running | Thinking |
| Eating | Feeling |
| Sitting | Remembering |
| Sleeping | Deciding |
Strawson’s main point:
The same entity (person) can have both mental and physical predicates.
So, we do not need two substances (mind and body). One person is enough.
Strawson’s Argument Against Dualism
Strawson criticized Cartesian dualism for the following reasons:
His Arguments:
- We identify persons through body, but we attribute mental states to them.
- Mental states cannot exist without a person.
- We do not experience mind separately; we experience persons.
- Mind and body are not separate substances but aspects of a person.
Thus, Strawson rejects:
- Substance dualism
- Pure materialism
- Pure idealism
He proposes a middle path → Person theory.
Self-Ascription and Other-Ascription
Strawson explains that mental states can be attributed in two ways:
| Type | Meaning |
| Self-ascription | I say “I am in pain” |
| Other-ascription | You say “She is in pain” |
Strawson says:
- Both are possible only because we identify a person
- Mental states are attributed to persons, not to minds
This shows that person is logically prior to mind.
Importance of Body in Identifying Person
Strawson says:
- We identify persons through bodily identity
- But we attribute mental states to that same person
So:
- Body helps in identification
- Mind helps in experience
- Both belong to one person
Summary of Strawson’s Concept of Person
Main Points:
- Person is a basic particular
- Both mental and physical predicates belong to person
- Mind and body are not separate substances
- Person is logically prior to mind and body
- We identify persons through body but attribute mental states to them
- Strawson rejects Cartesian dualism
Critical Evaluation
Merits
- Solves mind–body problem
- Avoids dualism and materialism
- Explains how mental and physical states belong to same individual
- Very important in modern philosophy of mind
Criticism
- Does not clearly explain relation between mind and body
- Some philosophers say mind still seems different from body
- Problem of consciousness still remains
Conclusion
Strawson’s concept of person is an important contribution to the philosophy of mind. He argued that we should not think of human beings as composed of two separate substances, mind and body, but as persons, who are single unified beings having both physical and mental properties. Thus, the concept of person becomes fundamental in understanding human nature and solving the mind–body problem.
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