Are the Mind and Body seperate entities?

[tariqkhwaja]

Assalamualaikum.

I believe they are. A human mind makes choices day in and day out. There are several times in our lives when we are faced with a choice. All of us experience this.

When we choose to move our arm, for example, electrical signals are sent out from the brain. However, what triggers these signals. It is our choice and our mind which is not the same as our body. The cause of movements in our body is the will power that we possess. That will to choose is very different from our body and that is one reason to believe the mind is not the same as the body. If there was no mind we would be lying on the floor not moving like so many tables and chairs.

Another proof of a mind seperate from the body is clinically dead people who come back. Their mind lives on even though their bodies die out.

 

[kai]

as i get older i know that my mind and my body have definately different views on what i can and cannot do

 

[Da Troof]

It is impossible to say at the moment.

However, if i were a betting man I would bet that they are one and the same thing.

At present science cannot explain how the brain manages to "create" a consciousness. Hundreds of years ago science could not explain many things that we now take for granted.

I'm very confused by your last statement. As far as I am aware the only case in history of a dead person coming back is Jesus and it is highly questionable that it really happened. If you are refering the NDE (near death experience) well in that case neither the body or the mind have died, just got near to death,

 

[Da Troof]

I would also ask you to think about the sitaution where brain damage occurs, either through injury or through disease. In these cases the mind remains the mind of the person to whom it belongs, but it is clearly altered. If the mind were a separate entity it would remain the same regardless of brain injury.

 

[logician]

There is no consiousness separate from the brain. When the brain and body die, we die, and that's it.

 

[doppelganger]

This is a semantic question. It turns on how one construes "mind". So the obvious answer is "yes and no."

 

[Da Troof]

There is no consiousness separate from the brain. When the brain and body die, we die, and that's it.

I think you will be proven correct, but our knowledge of the brain and its workings are still very rudimentary so it is too soon to make such an assertion.

Unfortunately theists will jump on this scientific uncertainty and claim that it proves that the mind(soul/spirit) is separate from the body.

 

[Mister Emu]

As far as I am aware the only case in history of a dead person coming back is Jesus and it is highly questionable that it really happened.

From Near-death experience - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Brinkley's experience documents one of the most complete near death experiences, in terms of core experience and additional phenomena from the NDE scale. Brinkley was clinically dead for 28 minutes and taken to a hospital morgue

I personally think that the brain contributes, but it is not entirely matter that forms the mind

 

[Da Troof]

This is a semantic question. It turns on how one construes "mind". So the obvious answer is "yes and no."

No its not a semantic question, it is a scientific one and it will (probably) be answered one day by scientific research.

 

[Da Troof]

I have a question........

Can anyone who thinks that the mind is separate from the body provide any possible way in which their concept of the mind might be tested scientifically?

 

[logician]

Wishful thinking may be the culprint here.

 

[tariqkhwaja]

Firstly, Da Troof, no, I will not jump to the typical Theist conclusion that science is wrong.

I would also ask you to think about the sitaution where brain damage occurs, either through injury or through disease. In these cases the mind remains the mind of the person to whom it belongs, but it is clearly altered. If the mind were a separate entity it would remain the same regardless of brain injury.

Valid point so let me clarify. Despite being seperate entities they are definetely dependant on each other. So, for example, when the body is injured it is painful. When one bows down to someone else a feeling of humbleness automatically takes over. Actions and how our body is does very much affect our mind. However, despite this interdependance I say the mind and body are seperate entities.

 

[tariqkhwaja]

I have a question........

Can anyone who thinks that the mind is separate from the body provide any possible way in which their concept of the mind might be tested scientifically?

As I said, clinically dead. Near-death experiences are actually clinically dead experiences whereby the body stops functioning and the only conclusion that can be drawn is that the mind continues functioning.

 

[doppelganger]

No its not a semantic question, it is a scientific one and it will (probably) be answered one day by scientific research.

No, it's a semantic one. I can tell because it involves the definition of words. :yes:

 

[sandandfoam]

I have a question........

Can anyone who thinks that the mind is separate from the body provide any possible way in which their concept of the mind might be tested scientifically?

I admire your faith in science.

 

[camanintx]

As I said, clinically dead. Near-death experiences are actually clinically dead experiences whereby the body stops functioning and the only conclusion that can be drawn is that the mind continues functioning.

All this means is that our definition of clinically dead is inadequate. Since we now know that the brain can retain some functions even though it is not getting blood, we cannot use blood circulation as an accurate measure of life. That's like saying the candle is out because you don't see any flame even though the wick is still smoldering.

 

[Da Troof]

No, it's a semantic one. I can tell because it involves the definition of words. :yes:

We are not discussing what the words Mind and Body mean. We are discussing whether they are separate or parts of a single thing.

 

[Da Troof]

As I said, clinically dead. Near-death experiences are actually clinically dead experiences whereby the body stops functioning and the only conclusion that can be drawn is that the mind continues functioning.

As I said, there are NO EXAMPLES of someone who is clinically dead coming back to life.

 

[doppelganger]

We are not discussing what the words Mind and Body mean.

Of course we are. Check the OP. Those are the words that are used. And the relationship between those words is the question posed. So what meaning and/or experience an individual associates with each word will play a huge role in the relationship that person draws between "body" and "mind." And any "debate" will necessarily be semantic.

 

[Da Troof]

Of course we are. Check the OP. Those are the words that are used. And the relationship between those words is the question posed. So what meaning and/or experience an individual associates with each word will play a huge role in the relationship that person draws between "body" and "mind." And any "debate" will necessarily be semantic.

Got to disagree I'm afraid. If I ask a question about a cat and a flea and whether they are separate or the same thing I'm not asking what do I mean by the words cat and flea.

This is not a question about the definition of words it is a question about what the mind is.