More Timely Than Ever!

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Mind Your Brain

Of these two statements:
  • The mind is the product of the brain; and
  • The brain is the product of the mind
I should think that the second is closer to the truth.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Upon casual glance, I'd side toward the former, not the latter. However, to be more thorough, define those two terms (mind; brain) and let's discuss the matter further, shall we?

Sincerely,

Adam Haman

Sheldon Richman said...

This is not the best place to engage in a discussion of such a complicated subject. I've tried it here and on other blogs before -- it just doesn't work. Suffice it to say that in such matters I place myself in the tradition of Aristotle, Wittgenstein, Ryle, Kenny, and Szasz -- contra materialism and dualism. "Mind" is a verb, not a noun -- it's something we do, not something we have -- and a person is more than the sum of his parts. When a human being acts (Misesian sense), he actualizes the potentialities of his brain.

Anonymous said...

If you're using "mind" as a verb, then I think you're exactly right. Determinism is pseudo-scientific nonsense. Dualism is mystic nonsense.

Adam Haman

PS. I assume you refer to "Kenny" of South Park. That little guy ROCKS as a philosopher!

Sheldon Richman said...

Adam, we seem to be on the same wavelength. As much as I like South Park Kenny, I was referring to Anthony Kenny, the distinguished philosopher of Aristotle, Aquinas, and Wittgenstein.

Anonymous said...

Two good Kennys, that's fer sure. By the by, my wife Jennifer and I really enjoyed chatting with you (and hearing you speak) at the FFF conference earlier this month.

Keep fighting the good fight!

Adam Haman

Sheldon Richman said...

Adam, same here. It was a pleasure. I hope our paths cross before long.