Sinead Fenton Outline the differences between brain states and mind state (18 marks) The mind and brain problem raises the question as to whether the mind is no more than the idle side-effect of our brain processes or whether the mind is its own separate entity. The relationship of the mind to the body is commonly seen as the central issue in philosophy of mind, although there are other issues concerning the nature of the mind that do not involve its relation to the physical body. Leibniz’s contrast illustrates quite clearly the difference between the brain and mind. If we were to enlarge the brain, to say the size of a mill, we would be able to see its physical aspects undoubtedly, the chemical reactions that take place with relation to specific stimuli, it has extension in space. However the mind cannot be seen, it has no extension in space. It cannot be seen, but it can be expressed through language, for instance pain and joy, but it is something that has to be experienced in order to understand it. One side of the argument about brain states and mind states can be illustrated through the thought experiment devised by Frank Jackson; Mary the colour scientist. Mary has lived in a black and white room all her life, despite this, she knows everything there is to know about colour, how its travels, how the eye perceives it and so on. One day she is let out of this room and she experiences colour for the first time. The debate about this thought experiment is how she reacts, whether she is surprised to actually experience colour for the first time, and learns something new, or does she come out of the room not learning anything new but merely experiencing it in a new way. Jackson’s view on this is that, as she comes out of this room, she experiences colour qualia for the first time, and this view would support an idea that the brain cannot understand with only science, experiences are necessary to fully understanding something. This would support that qualia...