Mind in It’s Historical Settings

There are numerous aspects of the nature of man and each aspect gives rise to many problems.  Some of these problems are comparatively simple, other deep and perplexing. Throughout time, people have made distinction between the material or physical world and mental or psychical world, the former may be perceived by any observer; the later remains a private experience. Philosophy of mind, today centrally dealing with four issues: the nature of mind and body, mental content, mental causation and consciousness. The nature of mind is one of the most important issues that philosophy has to consider and one of the most complex and baffling. The answer depends on our definition of mind and our interpretation of the universe. Any single interpretation of mind is inadequate. The aim of the paper is to analyze the concept of mind in it’s historical setting, because this is the matter of a general interest. When analyising mind, we must recognize life itself. Firstly, because human life cannot be conceived independently of human mind and vise-versa. Secondly, the above indicated fact entails that our theories or what may be called conceptual analyses of mind must cohere with our ordinary discourse pertaining to human life.  Our theories must remain synthetic and adaptable to new information. In a word, we should adopt Gestalt attitude viz. that the whole is more than the sum of its parts; wholes often have qualities not presented in their parts.

Descartes as a Methodologist

Rene Descartes (156-1650) is one of the most important western philosophers. During his lifetime, he was famous as an original physicist, physiologist and mathematician. His pursuit of mathematical and scientific truth soon led to a profound rejection of the scholastic tradition in which he had been educated . Much of his work was concerned with the provision of a secure foundation for the advancement of human knowledge through the natural sciences. But he attempted to restart philosophy in a fresh direction. For example, he refused to accept the Aristotelian and Scholastic tradition that had dominated philosophical thought throughout the medieval period. He attempted to fully integrate philosophy and theology and such a new direction for philosophy made him into a revolutionary figure. The philosophical writings for which he is remembered are extremely circumspect in their treatment of controversial issues. His work was influential although his studies in physics and the other natural sciences are much less than his mathematical and philosophical works. He was the founder of analytical geometry and the Cartesian co-ordinates; the name is derived form the Latin form of his name, Carteious.

 

Discourse on the Method, Optics, Geometry and Meteorology was published in French language. The Discourse contains a sketch of Descartes’ life and education together with a sort or summary of his philosophical and scientific position and basically it is the preface of the above said three scientific treatises. These scientific essays are presented as samples of what his method can accomplish. “He had the gift of  presenting complicated philosophical doctrines so elegantly that they appeared fully intelligible on first reading and yet still provide matter for reflection to the most advanced specialists”. Throughout the 17^th and 18^th centuries Descartes ‘ philosophical ghost was always present. Locke, Hume, Leibniz and even Kant felt compelled to philosophical entanglement with this intellectual giant. For these reasons, Descartes is often called as the “father” of the modern philosophy.