Philosophy of Mind: Philosophy of Thought, Perception, Consciousness, Identity

Understanding the Philosophy Of Mind

The Philosophy of Mind is a relatively recent field that deals with questions of consciousness and how it interacts with both the body and the outside world. The Philosophy of Mind asks not only what mental phenomena are and what gives rise to them, but also what relationship they have to the larger physical body and the world around us. Atheists and theists have fundamental disagreements about the nature of the human mind, with almost all atheists regarding it as material and natural while theists insist that consciousness cannot be physical. Instead, the mind must have a supernatural source in the soul and in God.

Philosophy of Mind & Metaphysics

The Philosophy of Mind is generally treated as part of Metaphysics because it addresses the nature of an aspect of reality: the mind. For some, depending upon their other views on Metaphysics, the nature of the mind may in fact be the nature of all of reality because they believe that everything is dependent upon the observation and actions of minds. For theists, the Philosophy of Mind and Metaphysics are especially interconnected because many believe first that our reality exists and is dependent upon the Mind of God and, second, that our minds were created at least in part to reflect the Mind of God.

Atheists Care About the Philosophy of Mind

Debates between atheists and theists often involve the nature of consciousness and the mind. A common argument offered by theists for the existence of their god is that human consciousness could not have evolved naturally and cannot be explained solely by material processes. This, they argue, means that the mind must have some supernatural, non-material source which they claim is the soul, created by God. Unless a person is familiar with the issues involved as well as some current scientific research, it will be difficult to rebut these arguments and explain why the mind is simply the operation of the human brain.

Philosophy of Mind & Souls

One of the central disagreements in the Philosophy of Mind is whether human consciousness can be explained solely by material and natural processes. In other words, is the physical brain alone responsible for our mind and consciousness, or is something else that is immaterial and supernatural also involved — at least partially, and perhaps exclusively? Religion has traditionally taught that there is something immaterial about the mind, but scientific research continues to push forward material and naturalistic explanations: the more we learn, the less necessary non-material explanations become.

Philosophy of Mind & Personal Identity

One vexing question addressed by the Philosophy of Mind is the nature of personal identity and whether it even exists. Religious theists typically argue that it does exist and is carried by the soul. Some religions, like Buddhism, teach that the personal "I" doesn't truly exist and is only an illusion. Materialist conceptions of the mind generally recognize that it changes over time due to changing experiences and circumstances, suggesting that personal identity itself must change. That, however, raises ethical questions about how we can and should treat someone now based upon past behavior.

Philosophy of Mind & Psychology

Although Philosophy of Mind is dependent upon the insights and information acquired in Psychology, the two subjects are separate. Psychology is a scientific study of human behavior and thought while Philosophy of Mind concentrates on analyzing our fundamental concepts regarding mind and consciousness. Psychology might categorize certain behavior as “mental illness,” but Philosophy of Mind asks what the label “mental illness” means and if it is a valid category. One point of convergence, though, is the reliance of both on scientific research.
Philosophy of Mind, Science, & Artificial Intelligence: Scientific attempts to develop Artificial Intelligence are heavily dependent upon the insights offered by the Philosophy of Mind because, in order to create an electronic consciousness, it will be necessary to have a better understanding of biological consciousness. Philosophy of Mind is, in turn, heavily dependent upon developments in the scientific study of the brain and how it functions, both in its normal state and in its abnormal state (for example when injured). Theistic conceptions of the mind suggest that Artificial Intelligence is impossible because humans cannot imbue a machine with a soul.

Atheist Philosophy of Mind

Atheists may disagree greatly in their conceptions of what the human mind is; all they will agree on is that it wasn't created by nor is it dependent in any way on any gods. Most atheists have a materialistic conception of the mind and argue that human consciousness is solely a product of the physical brain. Others, like those who are Buddhists, argue that much of what we consider stable and constant about our minds, like our personal identities, is really an illusion that prevents us from recognizing reality as it truly is.

Questions Asked in the Philosophy of Mind

What is human consciousness?

Is our consciousness material in nature?

Can consciousness be reproduced?

Do other minds even exist?

Mind - Treasure Unearthed

Mind - Mystery of the Social Animal

In our social surrounding vast majority of humans subjectively knows the existence and operations of the mind. Western science believes that the afferent nerves bring the sensations from the periphery or extremities of the spinal cord. The sensations then pass to the medulla oblongata at the back of the head, where the fibres decussate. From there, they pass on to the superior frontal gyrus or superior frontal convolution of the brain in the forehead, the supposed seat of the intellect or mind. The mind feels the sensations and sends motor impulses through the afferent nerves to the extremities - hands, legs, etc.

Mind, according to the western thinkers and researchers, is only an excretion of the brain, like bile from liver. The doctors are still groping in utter darkness. Their minds need drastic flushing for the entry of Hindu philosophical ideas. It is only the Yogins and those who practice meditation and introspection that know the existence of the mind, its nature, ways and subtle workings. They know also the various methods of subduing the mind.

Mind is one of the Ashta-Prakritis - "Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, reason and egoism - these constitute the eightfold division of My Nature" (Gita, VII-4).

Mind is nothing but Atma-Sakti. It is brain that wants rest (sleep), but not the mind. A Yogi who has controlled the mind never sleeps. He gets pure rest from meditation itself.

The Subtle Matter-Mind

Mind is not a gross thing, visible and tangible. Its existence is nowhere seen. Its magnitude cannot be measured. It does not require a space in which to exist. Mind and matter are two aspects as subject and object of one and the same all-full Brahman, who is neither and yet includes both. Mind precedes matter.

This is Vedantic theory. Matter precedes mind. This is scientific theory. Mind can be said to be immaterial only in the sense that it has not the characteristics of ponderable matter. It is not, however, immaterial in the sense that Brahman (Pure Spirit) as such is. Mind is the subtle form of matter and hence the prompter of the body.

Mind is made up of subtle, Sattvic, Apanchikrita (non-quintuplicated) Tanmatric matter. Mind is all electricity. According to the Chhandogya Upanishad, mind is formed out of the subtlest portion of food. Mind is material. Mind is subtle matter. This discrimination is made on the principle that the soul is the only source of intelligence; it is self-evident; it shines by its own light.

But the organs (mind and senses) derive their principle of activity and life from the soul. By themselves, they are lifeless. Hence the soul is always a subject and never an object. Manas can be an object of the soul. And it is a cardinal principle of Vedanta that that which is an object for a subject is non-intelligent (Jada). Even the principle of self-consciousness (Aham Pratyak-Vishayatva) or Ahankara is non-intelligent; it does not exist by its own light. It is the object of apperception to the soul.