Order from us for quality, customized work in due time of your choice.
The concept of mind is obscure, controversial, and impossible to define perfectly. Philosophical analysis, researches on the brain, and remarkable advances in the field of neuroscience prove to be futile with regard to defining the concept of the mind. Most philosophers have the opinion that the mind is an entity distinct from the brain. Though it is the most complex structure existing in the universe, the brain can be defined as the material entity located inside the skull composed of chemical substances, hormones, and enzymes that may be measured and analyzed. But in the case of the mind, it is a bit difficult to deal with. In the early theories, the mind was seen as synonymous with the soul but now it is viewed as isolated entities and researches into these areas was inherently separate. Many philosophers have expressed their zest to deal with the topic mind for centuries. When one deals with the topic mind, certain questions arise such as, what sort of a thing the mind is, is it non-physical like that of a spiritual soul? Is it distinct from the body? Is it a thing at all?
One of the most remarkable views with regard to the studies of mind is connected with the Substance of Dualism. The exponents of this concept claim that the human body and mind are composed of two different things. One is sure that the body is made of physical substance, in accordance with the physical law of the universe. Substance Dualists regard the mind as non-physical, that is, the mind is beyond the laws of the physical universe, which makes the studies of the mind more difficult. From the very ancient days itself, there had the studies of mind and attempts to define it properly. Some of the ancient philosophers believed that mind is beyond the comprehension level of ordinary human beings and they attributed different religious coloring to it. It was much later, there began the attempts to define the mind by the great philosophers like Plato, Descartes, so on. The Father of Modern Philosophy Rene Descartes looks upon mind as non-physical, colorless, weightless, without mass or size. But mind has the substance that does not depend on the body for its existence. It is the substance state of the mind that provides it the single existence. “If the mind has not its own single independent existence, the mind or soul would cease to exist when the body died, and there would be no immortality.” (Cunningham). From the words of Descartes it is clear that he regards body as physical and mortal, the other non-physical and immortal.
Another feature of the mind found out by him was the thinking power of the mind. It is the mental state of the mind which includes believing, doubting, dreaming, desiring, etc. Most of the modern philosophers today speak about mental states instead of mind. By mental states they mean that the state of believing something, state of desiring something, or the state of remembering something. They have reasonable reasons to stop considering mind as a thing; instead it is a collection of mental states or mental capabilities. It is no more a concrete substance that dwells in any particular part of the body instead it is an abstract being or mental states. Mind is a collective name which denotes patterns of behaviors, dispositions or tendencies to behave in certain ways. When analyzing the concept of mind, one can reach to the conclusion that it is difficult for one to define, as it keeps aloof from the comprehensive power of human beings with its abstract, mysterious qualities.
Works Cited
Cunningham, Suzanne. What is a Mind? An Integrative Introduction to the Philosophy of mind. Hackett Publishing. 2000. Web.
Order from us for quality, customized work in due time of your choice.