Mental States and Physical States
Mental states refer to the abstract ideologies perceived by the mind such as knowledge and beliefs. The conceptual ideas communicate the will of the mind in achieving success in instances such as during exams. On the other hand, the physical state describes tangible objects in the body like the brain. The physical states interact with the mental in bringing up the dualist nature of the individual. In mind-body dualism, psychologists perceive the latter as a separate entity from the mental process, both of which may function independently. However, the mind cannot exist without the body. The thoughts and knowledge upheld by the former need the latter to assist in the communication and storage of the matters. The mental state is identical to its physical counterpart since the reflection of the mental states occurs through the physical body.
Mental States and Emotions
Mental state is responsible for holding abstract ideas such as emotions. When a person is dealing with a stressful feeling, it may be held accountable for generating the emotions as well as ways of handling them. However, identification of a stressful person is possible through examination of the physical body. For example, such individual is dull and visibly unhappy. Although the emotions are in the brain, their expression manifests via the physical body. Separating the mental and physical states of the organism is impossible. If the two facets were not identical, then the body would exhibit different emotions from those processed by the person. For example, the face would express happy feelings while the mind was in a sad mood. However, the identical condition of the mental and physical states leads to the conveyance of the same message.
Acquisition of Knowledge and the Interaction of Mental and Physical States
Acquisition of knowledge is the primary source of ideas. Human beings gain it through reading, writing, or observation that contribute to the experience. However, the brain is not in any position to acquire any knowledge without the contribution of the physical body (Rosen et al. 323). For example, going to class requires the use of the legs for walking, the eyes for seeing, and the hands for writing. A comparison of two people in various environments will exhibit different levels of knowledge. For example, a blind person cannot learn how to write due to the lack of an actual visual organ that supplies him/her with the necessary skills. Therefore, it is safe to state that the interaction of the mental and physical states of the body contribute to the successful fulfillment of mental states such as learning and assimilation of knowledge. Therefore, the two are identical.
The Integral Nature of the Mind and the Body
Lastly, the location of the mind is within the precincts of the body. Apart from housing the vital organ, the latter is responsible for the optimal operation of the mind via a series of production of hormones and enzymes, which make the mental state functional. For example, the body produces testosterone used in improved attention to details such as in the case of taking exams. Other enzymes include adrenaline, which enhances energy production and assists neurotransmitters in boosting the abilities of the mind. Separating the mind and the body fails to explain the occurrence of psychological conditions triggered by the environmental factors in the life of the individual. More so, some physical activities such as yoga incorporate both of the two facets, thereby, leading to an immediate change in the moods. Therefore, the connections between the mind and the body are a clear indication of the integral nature of the two.
Mind-Body Dualism and the Survival of the Mind
In mind-body dualism, the primary idea is that the mind lives on after the death of the body. The philosophical concept propagates the idea that the former does not need the latter to survive. In this analogy, the brain can think independently without external influence. If the body and the mind were identical, one would have control over the other. More so, the death of the body would indicate the end of the mind too. However, Descartes points out that the resurrection of the dead during the end times is an indication that the mind will still be alive after the decomposition of the body (Rosen et al. 326). Identical things exist and cease to live at the same time and in the same manner. In his theory, he perceives memory as the remembrance of a previous life after the decomposition of the first body to host the mind (Rosen et al. 327).
The Collaboration of the Mind and the Body
Living organisms survive under the optimal functionality of the brain that captures emotions such as sadness and happiness. The expressions of the feelings by the organism through facial expressions indicate the close collaboration between the two parts. The mind-body duality disapproves the theory by terming the learning process as a remembrance of the things learned in the previous life. In the analogy, the death of the body does not indicate the demise of the mind. In essence, the latter outlives the former in the form of a spirit and takes over another body at birth. However, separating the mental and physical states is impossible since they work in collaboration to bring out the functionality of the whole being. Therefore, the mental state is identical to the physical state for any living being.
Work Cited
Rosen, Gideon A., et al. The Norton Introduction to Philosophy. 2nd ed., W.W. Norton " Company, 2018.
