The Brain=Mind Fallacy

[Brian37]

Bloody fucking hell.

Of 19 definitions of "mind" on dictionary.com, only 3 that I count have any association with woo.

While I am likewise of a mind (see what I did there?) that the mind is probably wholly dependent on the brain, "brain" and "mind" are in no way synonymous. One is a physical mass of grey matter, the other is a process.

The woo is in the usage, not in the word, for fucks sake.

mind
   [mahynd] Show IPA
noun
1.
(in a human or other conscious being) the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.: the processes of the human mind.
2.
Psychology . the totality of conscious and unconscious mental processes and activities.
3.
intellect or understanding, as distinguished from the faculties of feeling and willing; intelligence.
4.
a particular instance of the intellect or intelligence, as in a person.
5.
a person considered with reference to intellectual power: the greatest minds of the twentieth century.
6.
intellectual power or ability.
7.
reason, sanity, or sound mental condition: to lose one's mind.
8.
a way of thinking and feeling; disposition; temper: a liberal mind.
9.
a state of awareness or remembrance: The poem puts me in mind of experiences both new and forgotten.
10.
opinion, view, or sentiments: to change one's mind.
11.
inclination or desire: to be of a mind to listen.
12.
purpose, intention, or will: Let me know your mind in this matter before Tuesday.
13.
psychic or spiritual being, as opposed to matter.
14.
a conscious or intelligent agency or being: an awareness of a mind ordering the universe.
15.
remembrance or recollection; memory: Former days were called to mind.
16.
attention; thoughts: He can't keep his mind on his studies.
17.
Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. notice; attention: When he's like that, just pay him no mind.
18.
Roman Catholic Church . a commemoration of a person's death, especially by a Requiem Mass. Compare month's mind, year's mind.
19.
( initial capital letter ) Also called Divine Mind. Christian Science . God; the incorporeal source of life, substance, and intelligence. Compare mortal mind.

brain
[breyn]   Example Sentences Origin
brain
   [breyn] Show IPA
noun
1.
Anatomy, Zoology . the part of the central nervous system enclosed in the cranium of humans and other vertebrates, consisting of a soft, convoluted mass of gray and white matter and serving to control and coordinate the mental and physical actions.
2.
Zoology . (in many invertebrates) a part of the nervous system more or less corresponding to the brain of vertebrates.
3.
Sometimes, brains. ( used with a plural verb ) understanding; intellectual power; intelligence.
4.
the brain as the center of thought, understanding, etc.; mind; intellect.
5.
brains, Slang . a member of a group who is regarded as its intellectual leader or planner: The junior partner is the brains of the firm.
6.
Informal . a very intelligent or brilliant person.
7.
Informal .
a.
the controlling or guiding mechanism in a computer, robot, pacemaker, etc.
b.
the part of a computer system for coordination or guidance, as of a missile.

Nowhere have I denied or ignored the "definitions" above. I am saying that they are baggage far too often that gets used to insert woo by people who want to make the mundane material into magic.

I am offering you a different way of viewing the brain without adding a needless word to it.

When you tell a theist the first time they hear the term "agnostic atheist" they do what you are doing here. You get dogmatic about past traditions instead of thinking about a new way of viewing it.

If you want to use the word "mind" I cant and wont stop you, I just see that as a needless word.

One definition defines "mind" as the control of the brain. What you call mind, like I said, what "controls me" AS nothing more than genetics, brain chemistry and life input.

What I call "me" or "my mind" is input and evolution making a display that can be observed. Unique in that there is only one me, but most certainly not special in evolution or in any way beyond a material process.

Even in the scientific definition they call it what I am calling it, A MATERIAL PART OF THE BRAIN, so skip the word mind, it is still in that definition part of the brain , just call it the controling part of the brain,

QUOTE; Anatomy, Zoology . the part of the central nervous system enclosed in the cranium of humans and other vertebrates, consisting of a soft, convoluted mass of gray and white matter and serving to control and coordinate the mental and physical actions.

PART OF NOT SEPARATE FROM, SO THE "MIND" is literally the brain. I simply skip the mind part and say that "we" are all the parts of the brain in motion.