The Theory of Reflection Describes The Mind As A Mirroring of The External World

Philosophy of mind Mind is a complex phenomenon which has many dimensions and manifestation The phenomenon of mind is studied
by Physiology Neurophysiology Biophysics Cybernetics Philosophy Psychology The main definitions of mind Mind is a complex of elements in an individual that feels, perceives, thinks, wills and especially reasons (Oxford Dictionary) Mind is the human faculty to which is ascribed thoughts feelings, etc. (Britannica Encyclopedia) Philosophy of mind is a branch of modern Analytic philosophy Philosophy of mind studies: the nature of the mind mental events mental functions mental properties consciousness and their relationship to the physical body, particularly the brain The task of philosophy of mind is to give an overall and most generalized description of mind The main questions asked by philosophy of mind: What is implied by the concept of mind? Does mind exist? If it exists, what kind of existence it has? How does the mind relate to the body and the brain? What is the nature of the relationship between mind and body? Is the mind simply the brain? What are the criteria of the mental? Mind/body problem is the relationship of the mind to the body It concerns with the explanation of the relationship that exists between minds, or mental processes, and bodily states or processes The main aim of philosophers is to determine the nature of the mind and mental states/processes, and howor even ifmind is affected by and can affect the body The main approaches to the solution of the mind/body problem Materialistic Idealistic Dualistic Materialistic solution of the mind/body problem The theory of reflection describes the mind as a mirroring of the external world Mind is said to be a kind of reflection
All mental phenomena emerge only on basis of perceptions and reflections which are primary forms of reflecting the reality Reflection is the ability of material objects to change under the influence of the information obtained through the process of their interactions The structure of the act of reflection The influence of one object on another and their interaction The change of contents, structure and functions of both these objects as a result of their interactions The change of information between the interacting objects Reflection is the universal property of matter. It has specific features in organic, non organic and human nature In non living nature, the reflection is passive In living nature, the reflection is active Beings which possess a brain and a nervous system have the mental reflection The modern versions of materialism Vulgar materialism The 19th century German physician Carl Vogt Thoughts are related to the mind like bile is related to the liver Reductive materialism Mental phenomena are only complicated forms of matter in motion No extra entities have been postulated over and above the physical entities with their physical features The mental states are reducible to the brain states Eliminative materialism (an extreme point of materialism) Mental phenomena dont exist at all Mental phenomena are only meaningless words and they ought to be eliminated from the language of science Physicalism Only the entities postulated by physical theory exist The mind will eventually be explained in terms of these entities as physical theory continues to evolve Physicalism includes: Behaviorism The identity theory of mind Functionalism Behaviorism is a scientific school and direction in psychology It was dominating psychological theory between the two world wars Behaviorism concerns itself exclusively with measurable and observable data and excludes ideas, emotions and their consideration of inner mental experience and activity in general. John Watson American psychologist Consciousness is neither a definable or usable concept that is merely another word for soul Such things as emotions, images and others must be described in terms of stimulus and response Identity theory of mind Mental states and activities are identical with states and activities of the brain
Idealistic solution of the mind/body problem Mind is immanent, spontaneous and may be conceived only in itself and by itself. Idealism attributes to mind the absolute status The mind is all that exists The external world is either mental itself, or an illusion created by the mind Objective idealism mind is a unique substance which exists independently from the body Subjective idealism the only existing thing is mind or numerous minds which are entirely immaterial and are not related to anything except themselves Dualistic solution of the mind/body problem Mental phenomena are nonphysical Descartes was the first to clearly identify the mind with consciousness and self-awareness and to distinguish this from the brain The mind is a thinking thing(res cogitans) and an immaterial substance This "thing" is the essence of himself, that which doubts, believes, hopes, and thinks I have a clear and distinct idea of myself as a thinking, non-extended thing, and a clear and distinct idea of body as an extended and non-thinking thing. Whatever I can conceive clearly and distinctly, God can so create Mind and body are distinct kinds of substances Substance is an existent thing which requires nothing but itself to exist We know a substance by its attributes We know 2 quite different attributes thought and extension The nature of matter is extension The essence of mind is thinking Both substances are different from each other in kind How is it possible for an immaterial substance to come into contact with material substance? Cartesian dualism: The immaterial mind and the material body, while being ontologically distinct substances, causally interact. Mental events cause physical events, and vice-versa The problem of interactionism: How can an immaterial mind cause anything in a material body, and vice-versa? Mind inhabits the body like a pilot in a ship The soul does not move the various parts of the body directly but having its principle seat in brain, in pineal gland, comes in contact with vital forces and through these, the soul interacts with the body Other forms of dualism Occasionalism a philosophical doctrine about causation Created substances cannot be efficient causes of events Instead, all events are taken to be caused directly by God himself Apparent links between mental and physical events are the result of Gods constant causal action Nicholas Malebranche a French Catholic priest. We see all things in God The interaction of mind and body is due to mediation of God
Things which are traditionally defined as causes are only occasion on which God produces the effects in mind God is mediator between what is conceived between body and mind The doctrine of pre-established harmony of Gottfried Leibniz There exists an important distinction between "the mental" and "the physical in terms of causation God arranged things in advance so that minds and bodies would be in harmony with each other There exists a direct correlation between bodily and mental events, though they dont interact Such events are parallel and happen simultaneously because it was pre-established by God in act of creation

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Philosophy of mind Mind is a complex phenomenon which has many dimensions and manifestation The phenomenon of mind is studied

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