POLIR-Society-Philosophy-mind: 思想/精神

https://www.britannica.com/topic/mind

what is MIND

Written by

Top Questions
What is the mind?
How does the mind differ from the brain?
What are the main functions of the mind?
How do thoughts form in the mind?

mind, in the Western tradition, the complex of faculties involved in perceiving, remembering, considering, evaluating, and deciding. Mind is in some sense reflected in such occurrences as sensations, perceptions, emotions, memory, desires, various types of reasoning, motives, choices, traits of personality, and the unconscious.

A brief treatment of mind follows. The subject of mind is treated in a number of articles. For a philosophical treatment of Western conceptions, see mind, philosophy of. For scientific treatment of the so-called mental faculties, see intelligence; animal learning; learning theory; memory; perception; thought. For treatment of Eastern conceptions, in the context of the respective philosophical traditions, see Buddhism; Hinduism; etc.

Key People: Alexander Bain
Related Topics: philosophy of mind human intelligence memory attention psychology
To the extent that mind is manifested in observable phenomena, it has frequently been regarded as a peculiarly human possession. Some theories, however, posit the existence of mind in other animals besides human beings. One theory regards mind as a universal property of matter. According to another view, there may be superhuman minds or intelligences, or a single absolute mind, a transcendent intelligence.

Top Questions

_ Answers are created from Britannica articles using AI._
This is a beta feature. Britannica AI answers may contain errors.
Please verify important information in Britannica articles. About Britannica AI.

What is the mind?

The mind, in Western tradition, is the intricate combination of cognitive abilities involved in
perceiving, remembering, reasoning, and deciding .
It encompasses:

• sensations, perceptions, emotions, memory,"
• desires, reasoning, motives, choices,
• personality traits,
• and the unconscious .

The anatomy of the mind consists of identity, will, and the thinking component .

• Identity is a symbolic self-definition,
• while will is a function of the symbolic process in general .
• The thinking component makes possible self-consciousness and the transmission of culture across generations .

The mind

• ismanifested in observable phenomena,
• and has frequently been regarded as a human possession,

though:

• some theories posit its existence in other animals .
• Some theories consider mind a universal property of matter,
• and others propose superhuman minds or a single absolute mind .

How does the mind differ from the brain?

The mind and the brain are related but distinct concepts.
In the Western tradition, the mind is the complex of faculties involved in perceiving, remembering, considering, evaluating, and deciding .
It is reflected in sensations, perceptions, emotions, memory, desires, reasoning, motives, choices, personality traits, and the unconscious . Some theories consider the mind a uniquely human possession, while others posit its existence in other animals or as a universal property of matter .

Mind-body dualism is the philosophical view that the mind and body are fundamentally distinct kinds of substances or natures .
Theories such as interactionism, occasionalism, parallelism, and epiphenomenalism attempt to explain the relationship between mental and physical events .
Some critics of substance dualism favor monistic theories, such as the identity theory or the dual-aspect theory .

What are the main functions of the mind?

The mind encompasses a range of faculties including perceiving, remembering, reasoning, and deciding . It is reflected in sensations, perceptions, emotions, memory, desires, reasoning, motives, choices, personality traits, and the unconscious .

Memory is essential for learning and intelligent behavior, influencing perception, attention, and learning . Emotions also play a significant role by influencing attention, memory formation, and decision-making .

Furthermore, the mind involves identity and will, which are essential for adapting to social environments . The thinking aspect of the mind enables self-consciousness, indirect learning, and cultural transmission . These functions integrate under normal conditions, but can disintegrate in cases of mental illness .

How do thoughts form in the mind?

Thoughts are covert symbolic responses to stimuli that arise either intrinsically (from within) or extrinsically (from the environment). Thinking mediates between inner activity and external stimuli .

Psychologists consider thinking as an intellectual exertion aimed at answering a question or solving a practical problem . Some view it as modifying cognitive structures, while others see it as internal problem-solving behavior . Thinking can also be any sequence of covert symbolic responses that represent absent events .

Impressions are perceptions the mind experiences intensely, while ideas are faint images of impressions. Hume said that the production of thoughts in the mind is guided by three principles: resemblance, contiguity, and cause and effect .

What role does the mind play in emotions?

The mind plays a crucial role in emotions, which are complex phenomena involving neurology, behavior, evaluation, experience, and social context . Emotions are not simply amorphous feelings but are structured by underlying neural processes, personal judgments, behaviors, and social environments .

The brain, particularly the limbic forebrain (thalamus, hypothalamus, reticular formation, and amygdala), is central to emotional activity . The amygdala is especially important for emotional learning and behavior . Sensory stimuli evoke emotional responses through innate mechanisms, learning, and cognitive control mechanisms involving interactions between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala . These interactions allow for the extinction of previously learned responses and the cognitive control of emotions, which is vital for adaptive emotional behavior .

The interplay between genetic predispositions and learned evaluative beliefs shapes emotional life, highlighting the mind's significant role in mediating and modulating emotional experiences .

How can the mind influence our behavior?

The mind profoundly influences our behavior through a complex interplay of emotions, neurology, and cognitive processes . Emotions, far from being amorphous feelings, are structured by our underlying neurology, judgments, behaviors, and social contexts .

Our brains play a crucial role, with different emotions displaying distinct patterns of neural activity . The limbic forebrain, including the thalamus, hypothalamus, and amygdala, is central to emotional processing . Furthermore, two neural pathways, cortical and subcortical, are involved in activating emotions, influencing how quickly we respond to events and how we form cognitive judgments . These intricate brain functions and neural pathways demonstrate the mind's significant role in shaping our behavioral responses .

What are some common techniques for improving mental focus?

Executive attention is essential for problem-solving and executing complex cognitive tasks. It regulates the quantity and type of information accepted into short-term memory, blocking distractions to maintain focus . Working memory capacity, involving the frontal lobes, differs among individuals and relates to general intelligence . It can be measured through tests that require committing items to memory while performing another task . Damage to the frontal lobes can affect executive attention, leading to reduced goal-setting and diminished social inhibitions .

How do different cultures view the concept of the mind?

Different cultures hold varying perspectives on the concept of the mind, influenced by their unique histories, social environments, and interactions with other groups . Western traditions view the mind as a complex of faculties involved in perceiving, remembering, reasoning, and deciding . Eastern conceptions are rooted in their respective philosophical traditions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism .

Cultural psychology suggests that culture shapes the psychological makeup of individuals, influencing how they perceive and process information . Some cultures emphasize the spiritual aspect of the mind, seeking to encounter and experience it through practices like meditation and contemplation . These practices vary across religions, with some favoring visions and others prioritizing the contemplation of abstract concepts . Ultimately, diverse cultural interpretations reflect the complex interplay between mind, culture, and spirituality .