This post is different from the typical article-form post I would write. It’s a piece of work I did several months ago to think through the the idea of the mind and its distinction from the physical world. After you read, feel free to post a comment: what would you add? what would you change? do you agree? if not, explain.

I believe strongly that our thought life occurs just as much in our immaterial or spiritual minds as in our physical brains. I therefore find it a worthy pursuit to refute the idea that the mind and its capacity for thought can be reduced to chemical and electrical impulses inside of the physical brain.

Premise 1: Truth is objective and abstract. As such, it cannot be contained in physical space or matter.

P2: Propositions contain truth-value. They are either true or false.

Conclusion 1: Therefore, propositions do not consist of physical space or matter.

P3: Thoughts consist of propositions and claims about reality.

C2: Therefore, thoughts do not consist of physical space or matter.

P4: The Mind primarily exercises the power of thinking.

P5: Thinking is the act of processing thoughts.

C3: Therefore, the Mind primarily processes thoughts.

P6: Material objects cannot process immaterial things.

C4: Therefore, the Mind cannot be material.

Possible Objections and my Responses:

Objection: There is no objective or absolute Truth.

Response: Is that statement objectively or absolutely true? If it is, then it’s self-refuting. If it’s not, then there is objective/absolute Truth.

O: We can only know what Science and Empirical Data tell us.

R: Did you discover that fact from Empirical Data? In fact, you cannot. No experimentation or observation or nature could possibly tell you that this is true. Therefore, it must be false.

Also, if there is such a thing as right or wrong (morality), could science tell us that?

• O: Science can tell us what will help the human species survive longer, which tells us how we should act.

• R: What makes you say that we should seek the preservation of the human species? According to your view, there is no way to know whether we should do anything. If your worldview is correct, we have no good reason to condemn murderers or racists for their actions.

In short, the fact and belief that Truth is objective and knowable is absolutely essential to all of our knowledge and claims about Reality. It is the basis of all belief. The fact that Truth is knowable does not ensure that all humans will know it. After all, we are finite beings with finite minds and bodies. If we struggle to reach the Truth, it is not because it is hidden or doesn’t exist. Our own limits are the reason we need God to help us find it.