Re-Conceiving the Mind
Mind = Personal Functioning
The «mind» is commonly conceived metaphorically as an instrument that handles personal functioning. We talk as if it is the «mind» that meets our vital needs, physical and psychosocial, and responds to our inner pressures.
It seems to be an instrument and container which enables personal functioning. But it increasingly appears that the «mind» is to personal functioning, what the ether was to electromagnetic radiation: a distracting ungrounded popular idea.
It is impossible to study the «mind» scientifically if that term does not correspond with anything observable. By contrast, it is possible to study both personal functioning (in a metaphysical world) and concurrent biological changes including brain functioning (in the physical world).
While the brain is the needed biological enabler of personal functioning, there does not seem to be a need for an unobservable metaphysical enabler.
THEE covers all those categories relevant to and intrinsic to that can be brought into awareness (consciousness) and explicated. Like the needs and pressures underlying the Domains, categories are fixed and universally present, even if their activation may be optional and affected by personal or cultural demands.
However, THEE does not specify any contents of categories. Contents are highly variable and dependent on desired or forced choices of the «actual person in a specific situation».
Saying, as above, that “the «mind» enables personal functioning” can only mean that during personal functioning, the brain ensures:
- dynamic activation of THEE categories within Domain frameworks, and
- provision of viable content fitting the situation.
Observation reveals the people move easily among and within taxonomic frameworks both spontaneously and deliberately, both consciously and unconsciously. The complexity of a single situation often entails use of the same category with many frames of reference. We appear to have only limited control either of taxonomic dynamics or of emergence of useful content; but control can be enhanced by reflection and design.
Subjective Phenomena
Subjective phenomena like perceptual illusions are part of brain functioning i.e. they cannot be altered easily or at all even if the illusion is explained. This is what neuroscientists often focus on when they engage in brain-mind research.
However, perceptual illusions have nothing to do with the mind in the sense of personal functioning. A mental breakdown does not lead to a failure to see perceptual illusions, it is about a failure to function properly in social life.
Subjective phenomena like or or or are part of personal functioning i.e. they are under a person’s control. This is what most people are referring to when they talk about the mind.
Of course personal functioning requires some underlying brain functioning. Brain-mind relations cannot be studied without taxonomic clarity in regard to personal functioning.
Example: Intelligence is not found in THEE. However, (i.e. change reality to order) is in the taxonomy.
Elements of personal functioning can be expected to be found in a taxonomy, but none has ever been developed to date.
Originally posted: 1-Oct-2014