fast

I'm looking for the technical real difference (if any). Then break it down for me--What's what? How do I know when to use one term over the other. Is the mind's existence controversial whereas the brain's existence is clear cut.

What's up with this anyway?

Oldal.

fast,

Never thought much about this 'til now.

The brain is the 'hardware'; the 'mind' is the software. Well, not quite . The mind is the name which has been traditionally given to the 'effects' which the brain produces. It is the seat of the mind. The operations which we observe, produced by the brain, we call mind.

Just a thought...er?

Oldal.

uberbastard

Since this is only my opinion, I'll probably be ripped apart for this, but as I don't have the time to post a properly researched response at the moment, here goes...

Some definitions (per dictionary.com):
brain - The portion of the vertebrate central nervous system that is enclosed within the cranium, continuous with the spinal cord, and composed of gray matter and white matter. It is the primary center for the regulation and control of bodily activities, receiving and interpreting sensory impulses, and transmitting information to the muscles and body organs. It is also the seat of consciousness, thought, memory, and emotion.

mind - The human consciousness that originates in the brain and is manifested especially in thought, perception, emotion, will, memory, and imagination.

To me, those two definitions pretty much explain when to use them. "brain" should be used when referring to the physical organ (and the surrounding tissue) while "mind" should be used to when referring to one's consiousness / self / thought process; of course, the lack of proof for the existence of a seperate consciousness is what lends to the controverry to begin with.

BillyTheKat

This is a biggy. I predict a long thread which will inevitably descend into shouty argumentative goodness.

As I sit here typing these words, I'm aware of my mind, as that is the term I use to identify the ongoing narrative I experience when I'm conscious, but I'm unsure if that is how everyone else uses the term. I'm also unsure if my mind is product or precursor of action; for instance, am I typing the words as I think them, or am I thinking about these words after I've already decided to type them?

I do know that 'mentalese' is numptyness of the highest order.

fast

I don't want to derail my own thread with the insertion of this -- I really don't, so to non-agnostic atheists i ask, which is more proper as it reflects reality: God is a manifestation of the human brain, or God is a manifestation of the human mind?

Hmmm!
Hmmm!, again! Location?, or is there more

you lost me on this one. Are you equating thought with mind or are you distinguishing them?

Darth Dane

If existence cannot be proven outside consciousness, the conclusion must be that the world, and indeed the body and brain and mind, exist in consciousness.

fast

I'm not sure where this came from or where it's leading. Hell, I'm not even sure what it is, but some how or another, and I'm now sure which one, but I believe you would have just used a fallacy if it were not for the "if-then" statement.

For the sake of argument, I'm going to assume our own existence is both real and a reflection of reality.

BTW, if everything EVERYTHING is in our heads, and if existence isn't externally real, then assuming as such without plausible proof would be asserting a baseless claim, so it probably best to only assert (and I should listen to my own advice as well) things as certain when it's plausibly correct.

thanks for your response

fast

UnderStudy

Mind seems to me to be the consciously accessible part of the brain. Some times things surface to the mind after days of un-conscious brain activity.

The state of your mind should be described as what is available in the NOW moment.

Bobinius

Mind is the activity of the brain.

James T

Actually, I think that pretty well covers the basis.