A Conversation with a Beautiful Mind – Philosophy Major Fathia Obabiyi

Fathia Obabiyi is a philosophy major, with minors in biology and chemistry. A senior, Obabiyi is following the pre-professional track to medical school or to a graduate program in philosophy.

Upon meeting her, she articulates her thoughts in a way that is much older than her 22 years. Her breadth of knowledge and her understanding of the inner workings of the mind, in all its complexity, is beyond fascinating, though she humbly credits RIC’s Philosophy Department for her depth of analysis.

Philosophy emphasizes critical thinking, logical argumentation, the precise articulation of ideas and the much-needed ability to be open to the ideas of others. In this Q&A, Obabiyi discusses what it is like to be a student of philosophy at Rhode Island College.

What was your reason for choosing philosophy as your major?

It was intriguing. I am fascinated by the mind.

What’s your departmental honors thesis on?

It’s on consciousness or the conscious mind. According to reductive physicalists, the mind and the brain are not separate. I argue that they are.

Reductive physicalists often suggest that all mental experiences are reducible to neural activity. My thesis challenges this view, arguing that conscious experiences cannot be fully explained by physical processes.
For instance, reductive physicalists say that if I say the word ‘banana,’ you should be able to taste the banana. 

Which I can. I can taste it in my mind.

That’s the reductive physicalist’s perspective, but here’s the issue: How do you explain the taste of a banana to someone who has never tasted one before? You can describe its color, texture and even chemical composition, but they still won’t truly know what a banana tastes like until they experience it themselves. If the brain and the mind were entirely the same, then the brain’s neurons should somehow convey that exact taste without firsthand experience. This gap highlights the limits of reducing conscious experiences to physical processes.

Or if the brain and the mind are the same, why is it that when the brain is under anesthesia, some people are able to see themselves outside their body, witnessing everything that’s going on in the operating room? What is it that sees when the brain is turned off? Is that consciousness?

Some say the conscious mind is the soul and the brain is separate. But scientists say the brain and the mind are the same, that whatever happens to the brain should happen to the mind. Yet there is information we gather through consciousness even when the brain is turned off. An example of that is the out-of-body experience you described.

Where is the mind?

That’s one of the most profound questions in both philosophy and neuroscience, and there isn’t a universally satisfying answer. Different philosophical perspectives offer varying interpretations – from physicalist views that equate the mind with the brain to dualist views that separate them entirely. Personally, I’m still exploring this question, as none of the existing theories fully account for the complexity and richness of consciousness.

If a student wanted to take up philosophy as a major, what are the benefits? 

There are no disadvantages in having a minor or major in philosophy. Philosophy can be applied to every field. It teaches you how to think, how to question, it opens your eyes to things you never thought about before. Philosophers address difficult questions. That’s what I love about philosophy.

How would you like to use your philosophy major?

I’d like to go into medicine – either surgery or OB-GYN. In the spring, I will be applying to med schools and to master’s degree programs in philosophy.

How are you preparing yourself for med school?

This semester I am shadowing Dr. Glenn Prescott, an ophthalmologist and retina specialist. He does surgery, laser and injections. Next semester, I will shadow another doctor. I also attended Brown University’s medical school for a month this summer to experience what it is like to be a first-year medical student. We were able to work on a cadaver, exploring all the organs in the thoracic chamber and the brain.

Certainly, the kind of mind that asks questions is the kind of mind you want in a good doctor. 

Yes. Medical diagnoses are a matter of deduction. With a philosophy degree, I’ve been trained in deduction.

What about the philosophy program at RIC? What is it like?

It’s great. You’re able to have both a personal and professional relationship with your professors. For instance, I’m on a first-name basis with my professors. I’m working on my honors thesis right now, and Matt Duncan [professor of philosophy] and I constantly go back and forth. I try to explain my ideas, and he always takes it a step further and asks, “Well, what about this?”

We are also a very small group of students in the Philosophy Department, so, every Wednesday, during Free Period, those of us who are majoring or minoring in philosophy get together in the department and discuss different topics. We debate in a very proper, professional way about any topic that comes up. Matt leads it.

You are also very active on campus. 

I am the Class treasurer, treasurer of Student Community Government, president of the Pre-health Organization, a member of Harambee and a member of the Muslim Student Association. I was on the RIC Council for two years and now I am on the Academic Integrity Board. I’ve gotten so involved on campus because I have a goal – to build my résumé for medical school and for graduate school. There are so many resources at Rhode Island College and so many ways to make yourself stand out on your résumé. If you want to achieve and you’re willing to put in the effort, you can reach your goals.

What have been the challenges for you as a student?

I’ve been on my own since the age of 12. I also raised my little brother who is two years younger. I came to the United States nine years ago. My brother and I live on our own. My mother lives in Nigeria. There were many things that happened in my life to make it hard for me to have motivation. It cost me a lot in terms of my grades the first two years of college. I had to realize what I wanted and to cut out the things that didn’t serve me. I think, even though you feel like you’ve let yourself down or you haven’t done enough, just realize you’ve done the best you can. I made the decision to do better my junior year. The first thing I did was remove anything that stopped me from doing better. I also made the decision to do the things that fascinated me. That’s why I chose a philosophy major. I found my niche.
 

For more information on a degree in philosophy, visit Philosophy B.A.