It is extremely difficult to conceptualize our minds and bodies. On one hand, our mind is all we know. On the other hand, the physical world is all we interact with and deemed reality. Philosophers have many theories on the existence and interaction between the mental and physical worlds. Through the exploration and criticisms of dualism and the identity theory, I believe that mental states have innate and constructed qualities that do not equate entirely to the physical world.
Mind body dualism, a theory described by Descartes, states that humans are not simply physical beings. It argues that the mind and the body are two separate things thus meaning that there is a mental world and a physical world. The mental world consists of things such …show more content…
Everyone seems to have an innate mentality that cannot be replicated. However, this mentality is hard to prove because it is only shown through a physical realm. My only real knowledge of mentality is through myself. Most of the times I feel that my mental state is reflected through my actions, but not always. For example, sometimes I am quiet around large groups of people. However, I often feel that this physical state does not seem to reflect my mental state. Therefore I fully believe that a mental and physical world exists and that are not exactly equal. The part of dualism that I find hard to understand is the communication aspect between mind and body due to a physical change. To illustrate this, I, Sophie, think of myself being in a car accident. Before this accident, my mentality is humorous and I am a relatively happy person. Unfortunately though, I get in a car accident which results in brain damage. After the accident, this “Sophie” appears to change. I become aggressive and no longer make jokes. Does my old mental state cease to exist or is it there but no longer reflected? My only explanation is that the physical body to an extent overrides the mind. However, if my physical body is not reflecting my mental state, I believe that my mental state would become something different than before. I believe that if I was thinking humorous things but physically it was coming out as anger, I would mentally become an angrier person in certain ways. At the same time, as I discussed earlier, I know that in my physical life and am in a crowd being quiet, my quietness does not always reflect the thoughts I am having in my head. Therefore, I think that a separate mental and physical realm exist, but physical things and mental things affect one
Mind body dualism, a theory described by Descartes, states that humans are not simply physical beings. It argues that the mind and the body are two separate things thus meaning that there is a mental world and a physical world. The mental world consists of things such …show more content…
Everyone seems to have an innate mentality that cannot be replicated. However, this mentality is hard to prove because it is only shown through a physical realm. My only real knowledge of mentality is through myself. Most of the times I feel that my mental state is reflected through my actions, but not always. For example, sometimes I am quiet around large groups of people. However, I often feel that this physical state does not seem to reflect my mental state. Therefore I fully believe that a mental and physical world exists and that are not exactly equal. The part of dualism that I find hard to understand is the communication aspect between mind and body due to a physical change. To illustrate this, I, Sophie, think of myself being in a car accident. Before this accident, my mentality is humorous and I am a relatively happy person. Unfortunately though, I get in a car accident which results in brain damage. After the accident, this “Sophie” appears to change. I become aggressive and no longer make jokes. Does my old mental state cease to exist or is it there but no longer reflected? My only explanation is that the physical body to an extent overrides the mind. However, if my physical body is not reflecting my mental state, I believe that my mental state would become something different than before. I believe that if I was thinking humorous things but physically it was coming out as anger, I would mentally become an angrier person in certain ways. At the same time, as I discussed earlier, I know that in my physical life and am in a crowd being quiet, my quietness does not always reflect the thoughts I am having in my head. Therefore, I think that a separate mental and physical realm exist, but physical things and mental things affect one