It is common for individuals to use the words mind and brain interchangeably but the question at hand is, are these two the same? The logical description of brain implies the morphological and physical structure where the mind resides. The mind refers to the sum of all functional operations and structure of the brain (Tand 83). How different are these two? Different researchers and psychologists have raised a range of arguments as to what they think is factual. Some think the brain is physical structure whereas the mind refers to the mental activities and thus most will argue that they are different (Gardner 112). Others have argued that the mind refers to the mental activities and mental activities are the same as brain activities and therefore, they are the same. This paper will seek to provide a detailed discussion aimed at justifying the fact that the brain and mind are the same.
Brain and Mind
The brain refers to the visible and tangible part of the human body where the mind resides. The mind of the other hand refers to the functions of the brain. These functions are categorized into two key categories; internal and external functions (Tand 83). The primary role of the internal functions of the human brain is to control the complex maintenance of the entire metabolic process that aid in survival. There are other internal functions of the brain which are under complete control of the brain’s subconscious (or mind).
The external functions of the brain are whereby an organism has to reflect on the external environment and this happens with the guide provided via the information from other senses of the body. The external functions refer to the expressions of an organism and what is referred to as the mind reflection and these include; feelings, language, expressions, thoughts and more others. All these affect an organism’s experienced perceptions which most people regards as mind.
The mind refers largely to the manifestations perceptions, thoughts, emotions, determinations imaginations and memory that happen in the brain. This implies that mind is literally the same as the brain activities (Tand 83). In most cases, mind as a term is used to refer to the thought process of reasoning. The mind as such is the awareness of human consciousness as it is known, the ability to control human action and be aware of what one is doing and the reason behind it. It is a person’s ability to understand.
Argument on Whether the Brain and Mind are the same
The fields of cognitive science and psychology continue to debate the issue of whether the mind and brain are the same. According to Churchland, mental processes do not exist as different or separate from the brain. What was once referred to as mental processes is just the same thing as brain activities? Churchland further draws his argument from the work of computer scientists and neuroscientists working in the field concerned with the functionality of artificial intelligence in providing support to his view (Mills 74). He claims that even though human beings intuitively believe that every human being have an existence that is separate from their bodies, it is clear that this is due to being fooled by the processes of the brain. Churchland’s argument is based on the scientific approach that mainly focuses on evidence that can be verified, namely computer modeling by computer scientists and brain research of the brain activities.
Mills provides that it is very dangerous to eliminate Churchland’s materialism while trying to argue whether the brain and mind are the same or not (Mills 74). The five key dangers of eliminating Churchland are:
a. The rejection of the fact that there exists a unique and separate consciousness.
b. The simplistic assumption that the physical structure is directly linked to the psychological attributes and thus, the physical structure is responsible for all mental activities.
c. The elimination of the possibility that there is free will.
d. The loss of any of an individual’s sense of self.
e. The degradation of human beings as nothing but biological machines and the resulting change in a person’s social value.
In many cases, the issue of body/mind is presented in a manner that makes a reader feel like he/she has to be totally on one side or the argument or the other. Mills accuses people that hold the view of the materialism of being dogmatic in making their assumption with a stand that nothing is there apart from brain activities (Mills 74). Howard Gardner, a leader in multiple intelligence fields and education wrote the essay entitled, “The Chronicle of Higher Education” on the topic is brain and mind the same. In his work, Gardner prefers to use a conceptual point that employs a continuum of ways to help in understanding spanning from biology and physics to religion and ethics (Gardner 122). According to Gardner, there is no point to say science and philosophy have nothing to use with regards to arguing whether brain and mind are the same. At every point of the continuum, different blends of intellectual tools and disciplines must be taken into account.
The debate regarding mind and brain raises a range of distinct fundamental issues that lead humans to the core of cognitive and psychological sciences, both currently and historically. Historically, people view psychology as both a social and natural science (Gardner 122). Currently, psychology field includes a wide range of different and unique areas such as cognitive therapy and neuroscience. Earlier predictions provided that these changes are likely to result in psychology as a field fracturing with some people moving to cognitive science whereas others moving to natural science and others will as well move to philosophy.
The fact is the answer drawn from the debate on whether or not the brain and mind are same, the material and explanation above from different psychologists indicate that they are the same. Mind refers to mental activities and mental activities are just brain activities (Mills 74). Which implies that when you ignore the physical structure and only base on the functional aspect, the brain activities are mental activities and this links mind and brain to one course and role thus, main them the same.
Despite the many arguments brought to tables by different researchers, and psychologists, it is clear from the above discussions from each side that mind is the same as the brain. Mental activities are a phrase used to describe the functional processes of the brain which are the same as brain activities. Therefore, without focusing much in the physical structure of a human body, it is clear to settle on the fact that a person’s mind controls all bodily systems and so is the brain (Tand 83). All operations of a human body are controlled by the activities in the human brain and these activities are the mental activities. In conclusion, it is true to declare that anything attributed to the mind is the same as brain activities and thus, they are the same in the actual sense (Gardner 65).
Works Cited
Jon Mills, “Five Dangers of Materialism,” Genetic, Social and General Psychology Monographs, Feb 2002, pp. 23 -94
Lee H. Gardner, “The Philosophy-Science Continuum,” The Chronicle of Higher Education, Vol. 47, Issue 26, March 2001, pp. 34 – 124
Paul C. L. Tang, “A Review Essay: Recent Literature on Cognitive Science,” Social Science Journal, 199, pp. 48 - 134
