The mind-body problem has been a problem that has been addressed in metaphysical thought for thousands of years and is the foundation of philosophy of mind. The problem consists of difficulty in explaining the relationship between mental and physical phenomena. The difference in characteristics provides difficulty in coming to an explanation. The mind- referring to consciousness, being the mental, and the body being made up of physical matter. Consciousness is made up of thoughts, beliefs, emotions, sensations, desires, perceptions and etc. Whereas the body- the physical, occupies time and space, is made up of atom, neurons and so forth. The mind body problem is the series of questions that have been raised in response to this relationship and still remains a problem as proposed solutions have been weakened by criticisms all across the spectrum of theories.
Philosophical questions that arise are as follow and are essentially where the mind-body problem begins:
* How does something physical produce something mental?
* In other words, how does the brain provide us with consciousness?
* How does consciousness influence something physical - the body? *
* Furthermore how does it provide the body with intentional actions?
* How is this possible if the body is subjected to physical laws? And thus, would this make the mind to part of deterministic laws
* Do their dissimilarities in characteristics suggest a distinction in substance?
* If immaterial, and therefore describes as something like a spirit, spark of energy or soul outlive bodily accommodation?
Theories that have developed in response of answering such a problem are either Dualist or Monist.
Dulists argue that the mind and body are distinct in substance: the body being made up of physical matter and then mind uniquely being made up of an immaterial substance. Commonly this has been called the soul, spirit or energy...