The Complexity of Treating the 'Mind' as a Real Thing

In ordinary conversation, people tend to use the term mind rather than brain because mind evokes a more abstract concept related to thought processing and conscious awareness. For example, saying "brain your own business" carries a very different meaning than "mind your own business." Similarly, the phrases "Are you out of your brain?" and "Are you out of your mind?" have entirely different connotations. This article explores the complexity of treating the concept of mind as a tangible and real entity when, in fact, it is merely a term used to describe the functions of the brain and nervous system.

Behavior as a Real Thing

The purpose of using the word mind is to describe certain functions of the brain and nervous system, particularly those involving behavior. Behavior is the observable reaction of a person or an animal to internal or external stimuli. Its existence is empirically evident, making it a real thing that can be observed and studied. When we describe someone's actions as a result of their mind, we are essentially referring to their behavior.

The Binding Problem: How Mindful are We?

To understand the relationship between mind and behavior, consider the following scientific process. Light enters the eye and is converted by the retina into transverse electrical impulses. These impulses are carried by the optic nerve to the visual cortex located at the back of the brain. The visual cortex, specifically layers V1 to V6, processes this information to extract salient features such as lines, edges, and movement.

Here comes the complexity: somehow, this processed visual information is integrated and synthesized into a coherent visual field that we perceive as "seeing" the world. But how exactly this integration occurs is a complete mystery known as the binding problem. This difficulty in understanding the binding process implies that we have two "worlds" – the "real" physical world of light and objects, and a subjective "facsimile" of that world that we experience through perception.

Assigning Reality to the Mind

The term mind is often used to refer to this subjective "facsimile" of the world. However, this "real" world is merely inferred from the experiences we have in our subjective mind. In other words, we are unconsciously assuming a metaphysical axiom when we give precedence to the "real" world over the subjective experience. The only certainty about any reality we can be sure of is the existence of our own subjective experience, or in this context, the mind.

Ultimately, the concept of mind as a tangible entity is a simplification used to describe complex cognitive and behavioral processes. In reality, the mind is the result of the intricate interactions within the brain and nervous system. Understanding this requires embracing the complexity of the binding problem and the ephemeral nature of subjective experience.

Conclusion: While the concept of mind is useful for describing and understanding cognitive and behavioral processes, it is important to recognize its limitations. The mind is not a real entity in the physical sense, but rather a term used to describe a subjective experience. Therefore, we should be cautious when treating the mind as a tangible and real thing, and instead focus on the observable and measurable behaviors that result from these complex processes.