*START HERE* History of Philosophy

Early philosophers began seeking answers to questions about knowledge, the term Socrates coined ‘know they self,’ and the vastness of the mind. Early philosophers, such as Descartes, Locke, and George Berkley began to relate discipline to the mind. The Dalai Lama believes in enlightenment and enriching the mind. “Understanding the functioning of our mind forms the basis of Buddhist philosophy and practice” (A View on Buddhism, 2011, para. 2). As the development of psychology changed, so did science. The mind is a nonphysical existence that senses, perceives, and experiences situations throughout a lifetime. Education of discipline must begin early in life, so one can gain an understanding of ‘know thy self.’

Mind and Body

As early as Plato, Aristotle, and the Dalai Lama, philosophers have been searching for the meaning of life, knowledge, and of self. Two philosophers, Plato and Aristotle, thought about the mind in various contexts. Plato believed the duality of mind and body existing together but separately, showing manifestations of each other. According to A View on Buddhism (2011, para. 2), “All things are preceded by the mind, led by the mind, created by the mind.” Descartes experienced the world in search of the meaning of life and knowledge; he believes true knowledge lies in the abilities of the mind. Descartes states “the mind and body are distinct essences, but that they have a direct influence on each other” (Goodwin, 2008, p. 59). Descartes was the first philosopher to describe the reflex action of the mind. Learning to discipline the mind to respond differently to sensations, ideas, and experiences takes many years.

Locke is a strong believer of the importance of good physical and mental health and advocates “that a sound mind requires a sound body” (Goodwin, 2008, p. 42). Keeping the mind healthy requires the body to be healthy, and vice versa. The empiricist view believes knowledge is gained through experience by sensations and perceptions. The nature versus nurture issue is often under debate about which has more influence over behavior. According to Goodwin (2008, p. 42), “Locke believed that complexity could be understood by analysis of component parts…” When the senses (hearing, smelling, tasting) interact with each other knowledge occurs. Sensations, perceptions, and experiences from the environment shape the mind and behavior.

David Hume suggests impressions are made upon the sensations, and ideas; that these are associated with a resemblance of the past as a cause and effect. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) agreed with Locke’s statement that “experience is essential to the formation of knowledge” (Goodwin, 2008, p. 56). Leibniz also believes the mind has certain qualities, which include the ability to reason not directly related to experience. Although the mind and body are two separate entities, they work in unison. Leibniz developed the monads, which are the physical and mental elements of reality. The levels of awareness include apperception, (the highest level of awareness) perception (a general awareness), and petites perceptions (below awareness). The threshold is the point where unawareness and awareness consciously exist. Identifying the threshold is a key element in disciplining the mind and becoming fully aware.

Two Sciences in One

Immanuel Kant agrees with Hume about cause and effect of the mind. Directly observing mental phenomena is impossible, according to Kant, who was more interested in how the process of experience occurs, not just the cause and effect. Kant also “argued that psychology could never become a science like the physical sciences” (Goodwin, 2008, p. 58). During the nineteenth century, psychology evolved with an increasing knowledge of the nervous system workings and development of new methods to study the mind. William Wundt (1832-1920) led the school of structuralism and thus, introduced a new science, which he coined, “the science of psychology” (Goodwin, 2008, p. 95). Philosophers and scientists were interested in understanding the brain, looking for the truth and improving society. Enlightenment began to emerge from both science and philosophy during this period.

The science of the mind includes the neurons, synapses, and reaction to phenomena in the brain. Mental factors (phenomena) include feeling, recognition, intention, concentration, and contact. To keep the mind and the body healthy, one must discipline oneself to understand the intentions behind feelings and motive for behavior. Sigmund Freud originated talk therapy to empower people to “become aware of the thoughts and memories constantly emerging in a stream of consciousness” (Seeman, 2009, para. 8). Mindfulness is a practice many Buddhists practice and is also used in psychotherapy. Becoming aware of the body’s reactions to specific situations is the art of mindfulness.

According to Seeman (2008, para. 12), “Psychotherapy is a process of training one’s awareness on the quality of experience to improve one’s life.” Training one’s awareness takes much effort and time. Enlightening one’s life by searching within the self takes discipline. Therapy offers techniques in a greater understanding of behaviors, thoughts, and emotions often connected to past events in childhood. To have a greater understanding of the self, one must address obstacles in life by examining personal character, abilities, and qualities.

References

A View on Buddhism. (2011). Retrieved February 13, 2012 from viewonbuddhism.org

Goodwin, J. C. (2008). A History of Modern Psychology (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Seeman, G. (2009). Know Thyself: The Role of Awareness in Psychotherapy. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from goodtherapy.org