The Mind-Body Problem, Freedom and Determinism Problem - Essay Example

The knowledge of our conscious states is usually connected to the perceptual experiences that we go through. Constant thoughts, thirst, hunger, feelings of sadness and anger, pains and itches and somatic sensations are among the inclusions of a conscious mental state (Kim 67). There have been different sets of ideas regarding the mind and the body. Many people have argued and different and separate thoughts and ideas of whether the mind and the body are the same thing or whether they are different and separate.

We have been brought up with the idea that we have minds. We are taught in many different ways that we have both minds and bodies and they exist differently. Many people have accepted this fact despite the few people who argue against it. The small number has been increasing due to the several changes in beliefs that have sprouted recently that give evidence contrary to the popular belief. Self-understanding by humans is an important part of philosophy and science. This can be achieved by understanding the place of thought and feeling in the natural world.

When trying to understand the natural world, one has to consider the relationship between mental and physical phenomena. There has been a lack of agreement on what really is the relationship between mental and physical phenomena in psychology and this is what is traditionally known as the mind body problem (Cooney 25). It is a philosophical problem that occurs in the fields of metaphysics and philosophy of mind. This problem usually arises because of the difference in the qualitative and substantial characteristics of the mental problem and the physical bodies which the mind depends on.

This theory was realized by philosopher Descartes. Mental states have a character which is qualitative in nature. This character is usually known as qualia. When one is aware of his or her conscious state, then the only thing in question is oneself. A distinct and unique feature about our consciousness is that we have knowledge of them which means that when we are conscious, we know we are and we know how we are but we do not infer this knowledge (Dretske 56). Intention is another feature of the mental that is important.

It makes the mind directed at something. Desires and beliefs are also an important part of the mental state. These are referred to as propositional attitudes because we can express them. Some mental states usually seem to lack intentions, such as when someone is in a state of anxiety or euphoria. Intentions are usually directed by our desires and beliefs. Physical theory usually changes with time. This means that the current physical theory may go through several changes and revisions. The mind body problem, however, does not change with the changes in the physical theory.

The mind body problem has the response of the basic constituents of things that have mental properties. Physical phenomena have three different impressions. The first one is that the position will be classified as a version of physicalism. The second interpretation does not give the option of mental phenomena being reduced to physical phenomena. The third interpretation is that physical phenomenon is exemplified by our current physics. Although theories have been propounded whether the mind is part of the body or separate, its existence cannot be ignored.

This can be exemplified by the common language usages such as “What’s on your mind?,” “