Relation between Mind and Body

Relation between Mind and Body

Introduction

Reality and self concept are the most important area in psychology. Without understanding the concept of reality and self concept it is not possible to understand the difficult and complex patterns associated with the understanding of psychology (www.disf.org). Psychology is one of the important branches of philosophy, which deals with the scientific study of mind, body and behavior of an individual. This is the reason that most important aspect of understanding reality, form and self concept are important part of psychological analysis. Philosophers like Plato and Aristotle and many others, presented their philosophies to deal with the ideology of reality and form. These philosophies cannot be understood without understanding the relation between mind and body.

Throughout history, there are various changes which affect all the fields of study and thoughts and perceptions of people. Major impacts of these changes were on the philosophy, as it is associated with the process of thinking and in result, it affect all the branches of philosophy. Psychology is mainly affected with all these changes in the history as deals with the study of mind, body and behavior of people (www.disf.org). There are some major periods in the history, which mainly affects philosophers and psychologists in explaining the relationship between mind and body. There are four historical periods in which there are different aspects and perceptions associated with the understanding of mind and body. These periods are Golden Age of Greek philosophy, Middle Ages, Renaissance and 18th-19th centuries.

Thesis Statement

Golden Age of Greek philosophy, Middle Ages, Renaissance and 18th-19th centuries are major periods in the history, which affects philosophers and psychologists in explaining the relationship between mind and body.

Discussion

Relationship between Mind and Body

The concept of studying relation between mind and body deals with the understanding of matter and mind. The relation between mind and the way it affects and controls whole body of an individual (www.disf.org). There have been a number of researches to analyze and understand the relation between mind and body. Scientific study reveals the relation through stimuli and sensory nerves, which affects the body functions and behavior of a person (Hergenhahn,2009). This depends on the electrochemical properties which sends and receives messages from brain to other body parts.

There is also concept of dualism introduced in the psychological studies to identify the concept of self awareness and conscious. Another theory deals with the concept of monistic view, which provides a concept of metaphysical studies. In dualism, mind and matter are viewed as two different aspects on the other hand monism believe on mind and matter as one unit (Hergenhahn,2009). To understand this complex relationship, there are explanations of these relations in different historical period. Form Plato to Descartes and to the modern era, there are a number of changes in the perceptions and ideology of understanding relation between mind and body (Hergenhahn,2009).

1. Golden Age of Greek philosophy and Relation between Mind and Body (500BC-300BC)

During golden ages of Greek philosophy one of the main concepts ...