The Relationship of the Mind and the Body The Person

Can the mind exist without the body? Can the body exist without the mind? Surely in this day and age, there are artificial ways to keep the body alive even if the brain is pronounced dead. Likewise, the body can be completely immobilized, in a coma, yet the mind can still be alive and active. But can either really exist in its entirety on its own, performing its functions as usual, and in the same manner as if it was still in union with its partner? In his book, Discourse on the Method and Meditations on First Philosophy, Rene Descartes analyzes the mind and the body as two entirely distinct and separate entities. Through his analysis, he concludes that the mind does not need the body to exist. Descartes argues that since we are at the†¦show more content†¦We see in this statement that he doubts his body, but not his mind, because he knows only that he exists as something that thinks. Though Descartes may not explicitly state that he is so in this section, we know he is a pe rson, and with his conclusion of what he thinks he is, we can conclude that what his definition of a person is is merely an existing, thinking thing. What Descartes fails to realize is that a person must be much more than simply the existence of something that can think. This dualistic point of view reduces a person to no more than a spiritually existing type of â€Å"thing;† a non-grounded, non-acting type of material. How does this make sense? Can a person be born as just a mind? No. Likewise, a person cannot be born as just a body. The mind contributes to the body equally as much as the body contributes to the mind. Our mind may make the connections and tell us what our senses cannot, but our minds would have nothing to analyze and connect if our senses did not convey things to it first. For example, our minds could not know a tree if our eyes did not see the tree first and then send the image of the tree to our minds to be analyzed. The two are in relationship with each other and unified as one, and therefore must be analyzed as one. To look at it the question of how the body and soul are united and whatShow MoreRelatedTheoretical Relationship Between The Mind Body1193 Words   |  5 Pagesdifferent theories; the human mind and body may or may not have a correlation. In other words, there are explanations that concur that the mind and the body have a relationship of some kind. Yet there are other explanations that may disagreed and appose the fact that there is such an idea of the mind and body correlation. In this paper I will discuss the history of theories regarding the relationship between mind and body, as well as my understanding of this relationship. I will also discuss how psychologicalRead MoreThe Mind Body Problem, By Rene Descartes Essay1331 Words   |  6 Pages Mind-Body Problem Oluwadamilola Kamson Philosophy 101: Introduction to Philosophy November 2016 INTRODUCTION The Mind-body problem dates back to Plato and was well received by the scholastic philosophers. However, it was Rene Descartes the famous French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist. The mind-body problem is not, of course, a single problem at all, but a large collection of problems which focuses upon the fundamental issue of reality and knowledge in so far as such analysisRead MoreDescartes: Relationship Between Mind and Body922 Words   |  4 PagesDistinction between the Mind and Body†, one important thing Descartes explores is the relationship between the mind and body. Descartes believes the mind and body are separated and they are two difference substances. He believes this to be clearly and distinctly true which is a Cartesian quality for true knowledge. I, on the other hand, disagree that the mind and body are separate and that the mind can exist without the body. First, I will present Descartes position on mind/body dualism and his proofRead MoreDualism Provides An Explanation For The Mind1100 Words   |  5 Pages Dualism provides an explanation for the relationship to the mind in several ways. The relationship between the two is a compelling ar gument that several philosophers make. Although the body is a psychical existence the mind is utterly non-psychical. The body and mind are innately different beings and we cannot perceive mind-body dualism with our senses. Humans are aware that individuals hold psychical and mental entities traced back to psychical sciences including size and color. Additionally,Read MoreThe Theory Of The Mind Body Problem1198 Words   |  5 PagesIn the philosophical world there is a constant controversial debate of the mind body problem. This debate focuses on the different interpretations of the brain and its correlation to the consciousness. Philosophical theorists have used several approaches to explain this extremely subjective matter. The idea that the conscious being apart of the body or mental is diverse and theoretically proven to an indirect statement in comparison to the various arguments provided. Thus one may need to take a directRead MoreThe Theory Of The Mind Body Problem1199 Words   |  5 PagesINTRODUCTION: In the philosophical world there is a constant controversial debate of the mind body problem. This debate focuses on the different interpretations of the brain and its correlation to the consciousness. Philosophical theorists have used several approaches to explain this extremely subjective matter. The idea that the conscious being apart of the body or mental is diverse and theoretically proven to an indirect statement in comparison to the various arguments provided. Thus one may needRead MoreThe Effects Of Sexual Revolution On Young Adults And Their Development968 Words   |  4 Pagesviewed sex and what role it plays in lives and relationships. Beginning in the 1960s sexual relationships changed and have continued to morph over the decades, and this change has aided in the development of the â€Å"Hook-Up† culture. Hooking up greatly impacts young adults and their development and practice of cornerstone relationship skills. Negative relationship skills are being fostered b y hooking up and are causing obstacles for long term relationships. The practice of positive life and romantic skillsRead MoreThe Mind-Body Relation1833 Words   |  7 PagesConclusion The concept of the relation between the mind and body, between what motivates thinking, and the possibility of an unknown quantity called the soul controlling the mind and body has existed through out history. The mystic and the metaphysical explanation of mankind took into consideration an inexplicable resident or entity that governed not only the body but also the mind. The mind was not associated with the physical brain. The mind was a system believed to be controlled by an entityRead MoreIs Dualism Best? The Nature Of Consciousness? Essay1070 Words   |  5 Pagesconsciousness means that if you have the same consciousness, you are the same person, and if not conscience, you are not the same person. The thing that remains constant throughout all states of consciousness is that it is physically the same human being. For example, the drunk person and the sober person are the same human being, but may not be the same person. We are the same human being throughout our lives but we ar e not the same person, so our consciousness changes as we grow. The Aristotelian theory andRead More The Universal Soul in The Parable of the Chariot, Katha Upanishad 3.3-3.121178 Words   |  5 Pagesdependent on the control of those aspects of the person that are transitory and not eternal like Atman; these include the body, the mind, the intellect and the senses. The parable of the chariot in the Katha Upanishad illustrates the nature of Atman by means of an allegory. According to this parable, the way to Brahman is through Atman; the way to Atman is through control of the body, the senses, the mind, and the intellect. Each of these aspects of the person, including Atman itself, is likened to some