|
| | | | Is the mind a physical thing, series of nerve impulses and responses, or not? This is a question that has plagued me, and an answer so far has yet eluded me. I hope to get several repsonses, but, I would be severely disappointed if people merely brought up quotes and other arguements from other people that they could get from books, or online. Not that that is bad, but, I'd really appreciate it if anyone who answered created a worthwhile debate as close to their own thought process as possible.
Now, after that tedious little bit: I say the mind is not physical, though I am not sure what that means. My arguements are emotions such as: Love, grief, annoyance, sarcasm, and fear of death. Not to mention, the great ability that all humans I've met so far have that is they think they are truly the most intelligent life forms on the this planet. I have yet to hear of the atom, tissue cell, or pile of poo that has so effectively communicated that it thinks it is the best. Religion is not a valid arguement to contradict that, with deities and such, for we don't all worship the same thing. But, I'm sure I'm straying from my original point, so I shall end this now and wait to see who responds. |
| |
| | | | | It seems to me that the mind is a function of brain, not a physical aspect thereof. So the mind is no more physical than a computer program. |
| |
| | | | | So Khris, do we blame the hardware or the software for Bush? |
| |
| | | | | Eh? But what makes the brain feel feelings...Or do things at all? What is will? |
| |
| | | | | i believe that its, not physical you did make a valid point,about feelings and think the same way.This message was edited by alessa on 11-11-05 @ 8:44 PM |
| |
| | | | | The mind, I think, can't be created solely from physical events, memories, and experience. There are blind artists, who use color, and deaf musicians. Plus, that would severely limit the ability to create, and think. We've created things, like books, which describe other worlds, dimensions, etc. etc., but we still manage to imagine them, although we've never been there, or seen it , I'd say. For instance, if I were to create a story where beings are just hues of colors, and communicate by passing thoughts selectively to each other's minds, I'd think that, even though we humans aren't just a splotch of green, and to my knowledge, don't pass thoughts back and forth between each other's minds, I'd take a guess you could imagine that. So, how can we imagine things that we've never actually experienced? |
| |
| | | | the human brain is capable of many things, you underestimate the extent to which a mind is influenced by memories.
____________________________________________________________________
|
| |
| | | | | But the mind can't all memories, or we'd never create, or think, for that matter. Memories come from experiences, but what about those who are severely limited in their experience, such as the blind and deaf, not either or, who were that way at birth? Or those who are completelt paralyzed? Do they not think? Their memories are all mental, except through some form of communication they might be able to use. But, do they know what it means to walk, talk, do what most of us take for granted each day? Yes, the mind is influenced by memories, but what happens when there are no memories for it to be influenced by? |
| |
| | | | | Hmm...you raise good points...And I must agree with them. And, yes, the piano thing, that's true, and I didn't intend to imply the severely impaired might not have a mind. And, in trying to create an idea, for lack of a better term, like that, I just can't. I live in a world where communication is essential, as well as beings and colors...Though, that is because I grew up (and, am still growing, being of a young age) where I talk, and hear, and see everyday. Though, if I was born blind, deaf, and with paralysis, (I think slightly differing off track, not sure), would I know I was in a world that was inhabited with beings other than myself? Would I know the concept of music, and other things like that, or not? (Sorry, I'm fairly stubborn, so I'll create an arguement, even though I agree with pretty much all of what you say...) |
| |
| | | | Offak,
You state "Though, if I was born blind, deaf, and with paralysis, (I think slightly differing off track, not sure), would I know I was in a world that was inhabited with beings other than myself? Would I know the concept of music, and other things like that, or not?" That is a hard question to answer.....I have completed some contracts in research ethics involving psychiatric patients and find those types of questions extremely difficult, yet they are interesting. The problem for me is this.....if psychiatric patients, or a blanket term such as those with disabilities, are able NOT able to consent to the most basic of financial questions, then how can they consent to treatments that may rectify their disability through meds? If such decision making possibilities are not within their capacity, then how do we ensure that the person making their decisions for them are not just looking for a cure med that may harm them? A bigger question, which starts to move us into political realms, is how can the psychiatrist be able to take away the rights of an individual without a court or judicial process? What is it that psychiatrists "speak" that make them such an authority? What is "normal" as defined by the psychiatrist? I think these questions all pertain to your question in the sense that it may not be provable that said people to understand the concepts you mention.....however, is it necessary, or our duty, to medicate them so they can understand those concepts?
You ask good questions, which are the fuel of philosophy, but if you want to discuss something like abnormality or normality, we should likely start a new thread that does not pertain to the question of the physicality of the mind.....do you agree? |
| |
|
|