Is the mind separate from the body?

Question

Descartes proposed that body (physical) and mind (spiritual) are separate entities (dualism). Empiricists propose that the mind is a physical property of the brain. Similarly, some philosophers think that self-awareness is a sensation perceived by the brain like any other of our physical senses. What do you think? Are the mind and body separate, combined, a mix of the two, or none of these things?

Answer 1

Combined, certainly not separate. The mind is a function of the developed human brain and its electrochemistry. No brain, no mind. As a newborn, your brain was not fully developed, and at that time you had no sense of identity, i.e., you didn't know who you were. Your parents gave you a name and, in time, you identified with that. Gradually, you built up a memory, you learned to talk, and so on. All of that is stored in the brain. When your brain dies, all of that is gone.

Now, this has implications for the idea of life after death, and by extension, implications for virtually all religions. You've undoubtedly heard or read reports of near-death experiences or so-called "out-of-body" experiences. But in each case, the reporter had a functioning brain. You've never heard of such a report from anyone following cremation.

Think about it.

Answer 2

I am not a psychologist or a person who has sound knowledge in psychology. I feel that mind and body are two separate personalities. Body is powered by the soul.

You must have many times seen people (or faced in your own life) that you wish to avoid something but you can’t. Yet some other time you want to do something but you fail. This happens because of the war between these two personalities. What the mind (spirit) wants to do is objected by the body. Mind is not willing to always go after the wishes of the body. Having noticed this I started training my mind to overpower the physical desires. For me it took more than 10 years to reach a stage where my mind decides and body obeys. When your mind gains strength to lead the life – then you really become a spiritual person. Spiritual is lead by the spirit.

Further, in my view, the Creator must be forming fault free and powerful spirits through us for His future plans.

Answer 3

The mind is definitely part of the body. There is no need for metaphysic. Just plain physics will do. Modern physics description of nature is not deterministic and the relation between "mind" and "body" (in the sense discussed by Descartes) is obsolete.

That is material entities like particles or atoms have quite a "spiritual" or "ghostly" kind of existence. In quantum mechanics (that is, at the space dimension of atoms), for instance, you cannot separate the observer from the observed, which makes us more profoundly than ever a part of the Universe (since we are a community of atoms before being a community of cells).

You perceive reality only through your action on it. This is codified in your brain under the form of pattern of actions (see Piaget definition of intelligence). Logic and math comes from there. At a much more primitive level however, there may be a sort of cognitive experience, which I think could be at the origin of consciousness (I think this level we share with all leaving things). Since this is a primitive level, it feels like sort of fuzzy. This may explain the so called intuitive thinking. Some may also interpret (wrongly) this experience as a sort of evidence for spirituality. But it is not.

Answer 4

The mind and the body are seperate, however, they do work together. The mind (physical brain) controls the body, yet the mind works on its own. So I'd say it's a mixture of both.

Answer 5

the mind is a part of the body. as you mentioned it is in the field of dualism believing itself (and the body) to be a separate entity from the rest of the universe. (the Ego). It is our purpose to discover who we really are and this necessitates an investigation of the mind whereupon one discovers that the mind is not who really are...we are awareness itself the experience of which requires the transcendation of the subject/object duality created by the mind which does not exist in nature.

For all is One.

Answer 6

Yes. One has control over the other! The mind is in control of your body..so yes they are seperate I would say! What would your body be without your mind?? Nothing to say the least

Answer 7

they separate after u died.ur mind or soul comes to the hell.there ur mind gonna forget everything n then get ready for a new body,newlife,new fate.

Answer 8

My friend was in a bad accident the other day where his mind was seperated from his body, As it turns out, this is not a good thing.

Answer 9

Rene Descartes was a genius before his time.
I think that the mind and body are distinct. This can explain how people may suffer tremendous physical adversity, while "feeling" positive.

Answer 10

The mind would not exist but for the body.. Consciousness is so linked with desire, the idea that reason is this distinct pure activity of thought without any animal admixture is not representative.