A Solution to the Mind-Body Problem - 2685 Words

Search for Solution to the Mind-Body Problem The distinction between mind and body has been philosophical fodder for millennia. In its simplest form, the mind-body problem seeks to answer the question: What is the relationship between the mind and body? Philosophers, psychologists, and neuroscientists alike have crafted various theories in attempt to comprehend the place of thought, feeling, and self-understanding in the natural world. The first investigations into the relationship between mental and physical phenomena date back to classical antiquity; Plato interpreted the body as the prison of the soul (Carrier and Mittelstrass 10). The concept of consciousness and its existence as a mental element traces back to Descartes, at the very least (Carrier and Mittelstrass). This notion of consciousness, as described by Descartes, begs one to define what it is to be conscious, and subsequently the debate for classifications, identifications, and distinctions of mind states and processes ensued. Theories devoted to the mind-body problem first address the root of the dilemma: is the mind and body a single entity, or are they separate? This question separates the mind-body problem into two major schools of thought: monism and dualism. Monists hold that only one type of substance, mind or matter, compose existence (Wiltshire). The idealism theory supports monist perspectives by claiming the mind is the only substance responsible for existence and perception of reality.Show MoreRelatedThe Brain Identity Theory, Logical Behaviorism, And Dualism Essay989 Words   |  4 PagesHave you ever stop to think if your thoughts, beliefs, and desires can be described as something physical? 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