Realvolution response: The Mind-Body Problem

[jenzatron]

I have never ever felt jealous of my body. This is a very strange concept to me!

To me, my body and mind are so interconnected because of the issues I've had with it over the years. These issues have shaped who I am and how I perceive things around me.

Although I do believe that you are MORE than your body, it would be unwise of me to not realise that my body is still a huge part of how I think and feel and relate.

[malcolmroy]

I think this better discussed with a glass of wine in hand, but long distance will have to do.

First, tell me. How can you be one and consider the other real?

Soul

1: the immaterial essence, the spiritual principle embodied in human beings, all rational and spiritual beings, or the universe

Pragmatic

relating to matters of fact or practical affairs often to the

exclusion of intellectual or artistic matters : practical as opposed to idealistic

[malcolmroy]

As for bringing Philosophy into the equation, you do not exist in the real world until you make a video, and then I'm not sure if that is really you. I think it's a bunch of electrons scrambling around trying to look like you.

[malcolmroy]

The body is the slave to the mind. Without the mind running the show the body lies inert. You, I think, are looking for something that is emotionally charged in

the connection of the mind and body. When you say, "you only judge yourself on what you look like and invites others to do the same", you are proving that the body cannot have knowledge of how others see it. Only your mind can be concerned with how others judge your body. OK, now tell me if I got the gist of what you were saying.

[ImmyLovesHerIPod]

@malcolmroy Yea, that's true. Maybe I need to generally have a brush up on philosophy but my point is that while it's accepted that mind and body are different they are also linked. Many people believe that the soul lives in a certain area of the brain right at the centre called the amygdala. Based on the functions of the amygdala I'm tempted to agree with them, but because I'm basically a scientist I have to be critical and pragmatic. There is the main problem I have. XD

[K4TH7D4V1S]

Thank you for the VR! So insightful! It gives an interesting way to further the topic. Your class seems like it was very interesting. Great job :D

[ImmyLovesHerIPod]

@K4TH7D4V1S Thank you! =)

[SophiaPea]

This was wonderful!

I had no idea that here was an academic aspect to this idea.

You explained it so much better than I possibly could have!

Thank you so much for the insight!

Great video :)

[ImmyLovesHerIPod]

@SophiaPea Thanks and you're welcome =)

[JamieDanger]

What a fantastic video response! I think it might be our first one!! Thank you so much!

I've never thought that I was jealous of my body, I don't think. I also think that the body is separate from the spirit/soul/true self, but I guess I always consider my vessel, if you will, to be intrinsic to my soul, at least for the time that I inhabit it. Understanding this connection means that thinking of my soul and body as, for now, one thing, is easier.

YOU ARE AMAZING!

[ImmyLovesHerIPod]

@JamieDanger Haha! Thank you for being so kind about my camera shaking thoughts!

xx

[IsobelsTeaParty]

just because you understood and identified with them doesn't mean there's anything wrong. maybe I haven't understood but it seems more like you have the empathy to understand the statements.

[ImmyLovesHerIPod]

@IsobelsTeaParty Okay, let me try to explain. I understood the statements we were given, they themselves are not dangerous. My point is that often a extremely separated view of self and body is very damaging. To see them as separate is not dangerous but it often leads to depression and dismorphia. What I'm trying to say is that a understanding of My "self" is not limited to My Body is required to be happy in my opinion.

[ImmyLovesHerIPod]

@IsobelsTeaParty The statements were just to get us thinking about it, but I disagree with lecturer in that we were "weird" to understand them. I disagree with his use of the word weird too. In my opinion it would be more worrying if we agreed with the statement "I want to kill/punish/hurt my body". Understand that I'm coming from a perspective that is based in pragmatic treatment and so such things are in a grey area. How far does this go before it becomes hurtful? How can you answer this?