A Philosophy of Mind

Is the mind the same as the body? What is consciousness? Can machines have it?

Moderators: AMod, iMod

Locked
Barbara Brooks
Posts: 1826
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:41 pm

Post by Barbara Brooks »

There are so many thoughts rattling around in mind ever directed towards things which are all in order moving according to reason; these I imitate and these I will emulate as far as I can.
The mind is a remarkable system, independent, feeling, perceiving, reasoning, willing and thinking a theoretical process that determines logically a relationship with the world.

In a conscious awaken state of mind equally we all have is the power of distinguishing truth from error, which is properly what is called reason. Reason conducts us.

The mind is as the sun a pure reflection to itself but unfortunately the mind is merely self-consciousness and hard to understand. Mind is a remarkable phenomenon; it appears to be conscious but is really unconsciousness. Just as we sleep to rest our organism and waken or gather food and build we do unconsciously.

Mind naturally summons to the aid knowledge. From the mind is derived that all sensible creatures aim at. Zeno of Elea very paradoxes are very interesting argument that show that a line cannot be composed of points. If supposed that a line segment is composed of a multiplicity of points, then we can always divide a line segment, and every bi-section leave us with a line segment that can be divided. The eye sees both small and great, but only in a confused manner. Therefore, mind summons knowledge to look at small and great as separate not confused as the visible world but the affirmation and truth in two parts, the finite and infinite idea.

Then to perceive anything we must have knowledge. Proving anything must exclude everything that is not grasped through and through by the mind.
Barbara Brooks
Posts: 1826
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:41 pm

Post by Barbara Brooks »

I love philosophy but cannot explain the reason why, I appear to be caught the infection blindness, philosophy is beholding me, but I am not aware of this. When I am being philosophical, I cease from pain, and when I stay away, I then longed for its friendship.

Bursting with passion, I embrace philosophy my dearest friend. The Olympian victories; can human discipline or divine inspiration present any greater blessing on me than this? For those who have once begun the heavenward pilgrimage to philosophy cannot go down again to darkness but they live in light always, happy companions in the pilgrimage.

The eternal and unchangeable mind always loves knowledge of a sort, which shows nature not varying from generation and corruption. The magnificent observer of all time and all existence is surely to be just and gentle, and has good memory quick, noble, gracious, the friend of truth, justice, courageous, and temperate. A philosopher will not rest in the multiplicity of individuality, which is appearance only, but goes on the keen edge not blunted, or subside until we have attained the knowledge of the true essence of philosophy.
Barbara Brooks
Posts: 1826
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:41 pm

Post by Barbara Brooks »

Living flourishing love the middle term between ignorance and learning is never in want or never plenty, tossed in some region, which is half way between lack of knowledge and knowledge.

Descartes believed that the requisite of love above all establishes reason between the divine and the humane surrender and mysteries and charms, and prophecy and incantation find their way.

Ernest Hemingway believed his love of writing came: "From things that had happened and from things as they exist and from all things that you know. That all those you cannot know, you make something through your invention that is not a representation but a whole new thing truer than anything true and alive, and if you make it well enough, you give it immortality. That is why you write and for no other reason that you know of."

Love of learning is philosophy, which is gentle, good, and noble purpose. What is required is, courage, quickness, and might and well being.


True knowledge Protagorus thought was through conversation discussion asking and answering, beating the subject up and down. But he also thought that to speak of what every one knows would be tedious.

Turn back to the period which took place thousands of years ago when philosophy was known to be the love of knowledge that was viewed as essential and distinctive contributions to the field of science and the intellectual world. Philosophers like good farmers need to watch over their crops nurturing and cultivating Philosophy‘s gentle qualities and calm and remove the dislike of learning.

Love of knowledge that is lodged in the philosopher’s heart depends upon their discipline; if the better elements of the mind lead to order and mastery of self, freeing the virtuous elements; is there any greater blessing than this?
Barbara Brooks
Posts: 1826
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:41 pm

Post by Barbara Brooks »

In the world of knowledge the idea of good appears last of all, and is seen only with an effort; and, when seen, is also considered to be the universal author of all things beautiful and right, parent of light and the lord of light in this visible world. Good is the immediate source of reason and truth in the world and that this is the power upon which we act rationally, either in public or private life and must have our eyes fixed upon.
Barbara Brooks
Posts: 1826
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:41 pm

Post by Barbara Brooks »

The followers of philosophy should have a mind of the truth-seeking nature, and do all they can to confirm such a nature and if not knowledgeable learn from anyone who can teach them.

We custodians of philosophy must dedicate ourselves wholly to the upholding of truth; a society is as good as the people. A just and good people we should want to copy good and not be ashamed of this sort of person who acts wisely and leads a life of fairness

Only by good do all things become useful and advantageous. The highest virtue is good. Everyone who pursues it and makes it the end of all actions shines with radiant truth.

Be a servant of good, so that we all may be, as far as possible, under the same rule, friends and equals.

Don’t let those ordinary goods of life’ beauty, wealth, rank, and connections corrupt and distract we useful handy helpers for greater good. The mind that perceives and understands is radiant with intelligence when resting upon good. Truth and that all other things become useful and advantageous only by good.
Barbara Brooks
Posts: 1826
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:41 pm

Post by Barbara Brooks »

This morning I forced myself up to study good that is most likely to find justice, and not with a view of making a few happy peoples, but the whole beautiful principle of happiness of doing our own work in the best way in a noble order, and receives the proportion of happiness which nature assigns us.

When, under the pressure either of poverty or wealth, work-person-ship is liable to worsen and grow more and more indolent and careless. Wealth and poverty; one is the close relative of luxury and laziness, and the later of unkindness and fierceness, they are both discontented.

Indeed, no matter how small any society is in fact divided into two, one poor, the other rich; are treated never as a single status. But, whether seen or unseen, in deed and truth a society will have many friends and not many enemies.

If portions are unequal, peoples can never grow up into well-conducted virtuous citizen, which is what justice is. We must put to use what nature intended of citizens and then we all would do our own creation, and so too the whole society would be one and not many.

Pretension to be what we are not, only seeming and not real turns the society upside down; therefore we must be compelled or encouraged to do our own work in the best way. Thus, the whole society will grow up in a noble order, and all will receive the proportion of happiness which nature assigns to them.
Barbara Brooks
Posts: 1826
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:41 pm

Post by Barbara Brooks »

We are likely to find justice not with a view of making a few people happy, but that the whole beautiful noble people receives the proportion of happiness which nature assigns us.

If philosophers want to do their work in life, they must have the true gifts of grace, harmony, and conviction that flow like a gentle wind from a purer region.

As rhythm and harmony imparts grace in musical training so too the philosopher who is rightly educated become noble and good, everywhere eager to make good temperance, courage, kindness, and magnificence harmony the fairest of sights.

A temperate mind perceives true beauty and grace flows into likeness with reason; and when reason draws closer recognizes it and salutes. A philosopher rightly educated has that spirit of harmony temperance, courage, kindness, and brilliance.

The problem is, these qualities temperance, courage, kindness and brilliance do not often mix well. Philosophers who possess the gifts of reason are at the same time lively not orderly and not peaceful are impregnable to fear and immovable; they even go to sleep over academic works.

Just as in any other studies and labor if philosophers want to see perfect beauty they must take a longer and more roundabout way There are numerous causes to over come that can defeat and distract us just life itself has a corrupting and distracting effect.

Little things elaborated how ludicrous. If philosophers want to see perfect beauty must take a longer more roundabout way where at the end appear the most finished picture that should satisfy us.
Barbara Brooks
Posts: 1826
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:41 pm

Post by Barbara Brooks »

The mind is perplexed when there is a contradiction. The very hypothesis of Zeno in a word to be or not to be or any relationship to one and many. Perplexity naturally summons calculation and thought. There would be no need for knowledge if one could adequately be perceived. But, there is always some contradiction present the reverse of one and this involves opposites.

Knowledge of things for the sake of truth that do not perish and are not transient is Geometry; it draws the mind toward truth and the spirit of philosophy. Geometry compels twist and gazes towards the full perfection of being that ought to be. Not in a restricted manner of squaring extending applying and the like but drawing mind towards truth. Numbers are of the intellect only; they are seen only with the mind not as merchant who buys or sells but by the light of reason without any assistance of the senses until knowledge arrives at absolute good.

So when we start on the discovery of truth good is at the end of the intellectual world we will be released from the chains of ignorance. Knowledge has the power of elevating mind to the highest thinking. This is a given for all who study and pursue, from shadows from the underground den to the sunlight.
Barbara Brooks
Posts: 1826
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:41 pm

Post by Barbara Brooks »

In the case of self-consciousness, certainty and perception are distinct segments of self. But self assumes individuality through a specific determination, a mediator, and so on.

The ego is, therefore the pure inner self, in other words, essential being in and for self. Self indeed is consciousness, appears free and independent the object of consciousness at the same time, self.

Ego comes forward restless passing hither and thither, seeing, grasping in one-way in the other way the imperturbable certainty of self in which lies sensation of ideas.

The first realization is belief of self. First, self knows self, second the form, for shape self assumes is through the productive activity of self by action. Therefore, self is self first is in the form of consciousness, and second self-consciousness, the last, the unity of both completely self-contained.
Barbara Brooks
Posts: 1826
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:41 pm

Post by Barbara Brooks »

Ethical moral values essentially are just as much about self as it is setting rules of a society outside family; must not be taken as if ethical society were merely an act of service. An ethical act lifts self out of the life of chance into real and substantial universal existence. No doubt it takes labor in attaining an ethical community,

Descartes is known to be one of the greatest philosophers. He never fancied his mind to be in any more perfect than those of anyone else. He wished that he were equal to others, or at least had in clearness imagination and knowledge of others.

Knowledge is formed by a method of discipline that rises little by little gradually to the highest point life will permit us to reach.
You will not easily find more difficult study but philosophers should be trained in and which must not be given up.

Through thought comes truth and with truth comes compassion of others. This is in the mind of everyone and is most good.
Barbara Brooks
Posts: 1826
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:41 pm

Post by Barbara Brooks »

“The Prince” by Machiavelli who tells that a wise philosopher ought always to follow the path beaten by great people and to imitate those who have been best.

Reason splits up into distinct elemental forms human and divine.
Parmenides is quoted saying, that the utmost limit of being is perfection, resembles a well rounded sphere, which from its centre extends in all directions equally, for self can be neither larger or smaller in one part or another. There is nothing which prevents self from attaining to the like.”

A philosopher is a person who has fallen among madness but will not join in but can neither is able single-handed resist all the madness. Therefore seeing that philosophers would be throwing their life away without doing any good hold their peace, and go their own way.

Like in the storm driving winds, philosophers hurry along, retire under a shelter and observe the madness, contented if only we can live our own life.
Barbara Brooks
Posts: 1826
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:41 pm

Post by Barbara Brooks »

When we perceive something either by the help of sight or hearing or any of the other senses a formation appears in our mind of something like it or unlike it. Therefore we had knowledge and I am not speaking only of knowledge but reason, beauty, goodness, justice, holiness all that are stamped of essence, before we were born.

Those who know only remember. How astonishing to me to think that we knew everything before birth and by the use of our senses recover what we previously knew. Then knowledge is a process of recovering may be rightly termed recollection. Those who see the absolute may be said to know. Philosophers know the existence of absolute beauty and are able to distinguish the idea from reality, neither putting the reality in place of the idea nor the idea in the place of actuality.

Look at the things framed in the most perfect manner the end of all actions in the most perfect manner.
Barbara Brooks
Posts: 1826
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:41 pm

Post by Barbara Brooks »

For skepticism sees nothing is the result from the fact that nothing comes out of nothing. But skepticism this nothing comes from nothing is a determinate nothing.

To get understanding we must slave for it. The philosophical mind is always seeking knowledge of a kind that shows truth not varying from generation and corruption. Here we are drawn off into another channel, absorbed in knowledge if a true philosopher. The opinion and bias is a test of the undertaking proceeds straight away to doubt.

No one will love that which gives much toil makes little progress.

The kindred who have the gift of good memory, and quick to learn, are the noble and gracious, friend of truth, justice, courage, temperance are always striving after truth will not rest in opinion only.

A sympathetic and kindred power draws us near to become incorporated with the begotten mind and truth, there knowledge lives and grows.
Barbara Brooks
Posts: 1826
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:41 pm

Post by Barbara Brooks »

Therefore, knowledge comes on the scene as the instrument liberates a pathway of reason. Whatever is done and whatever happens to you must have knowledge. As disregarded as knowledge by the world it forces it’s way by natural charm emerges into light.

Philosophy is unconditional sacrifice and labor, a chain, or bondage but we succeed in attaining truth.
User avatar
Rortabend
Posts: 261
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:36 am
Location: Cambridge

Navel gazing

Post by Rortabend »

Barbara

I know philosophers are into navel gazing but it's probably best to have dialogues with TWO people.
Locked