The Separation of Mind and Body

The separation of mind and body, often called dualism, is the idea that the mind (thoughts, feelings, consciousness) and the body (physical brain and body) are distinct entities. While the body is made of physical matter and operates according to natural laws, the mind is related to mental states that are not purely physical. Dualists believe that the mind can exist independently of the body, explaining phenomena like self-awareness and subjective experience. This concept has been influential in philosophy and debates about consciousness, raising questions about how non-physical mental processes interact with the physical body.