Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Descartes: Mind and Body
I think our discussion about the mind and body being two completely different entities is a very interesting concept. The belief that the mind is non physical substance, is a very different belief than what we think of today. We usually think of the mind as part of the brain. This whole concept is remarkable to me. What do yall think about the seperation between mind and body?
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In contrast to Descartes, I believe the mind and body are interconnected. Like we talked about today in class, your moods can directly impact your health. I found this article online that explores the connections between mind and body. I thought the section about laughing was particularly interesting.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/healthy-living/how-moods-affect-our-health-764289.html
In my opinion, the mind and body are separate entities. Although we wouldn't be human without bodies, I somewhat agree with Descartes that the mind is correlated with spirit. I think our spirit transcends the capacity of a human body, thus making the mind a very important, and almost independent, part of being human.
Descartes believed that mind and body are separate because your bodily senses can't be trusted but your mind will reveal absolute truth.
I agree with Julia's ideas that the two entities of mind and body are related, because I can see how this is reflective of my own life. I'm sure that the "under pressure" section in that online article can apply to many other people as well as myself. The article states that when you are stressed, the body's immune system is impaired. This is most likely why during my busiest times of the year aka Nutcracker season, I often get sick.
I think that the mind and body are quite interconnected, and we can see evidence for this in all areas of life. Descartes' belief is a hopeful one, and is essentially his version of a soul. Simply because he desires that it is true means little in the way of actuality.
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