On page 15 of the reading, Marx claims that "life is not determined by consciousness, but consciousness by life". After reading this statement, many questions formed in my mind regarding the nature of our existence and the duality between our minds and bodies. Does thought even exist beyond the material world? In the absence of our physical being, does the mind retain significance? Or, is every thought a product of what we as humans determine using our senses (what we see, hear, feel, etc.)?
As a follow-up to my first question, I would like to discuss the implication of the mind-body connection in a subconscious or even unconscious state. Does Marx's theory still apply when we are refering to the mind that is not fully aware? Are our dreams a product of the physical world? Or, controversially, does the subconscious mind influence our bodies and therefore does an idealistic perspective have some sort of significance here?
In response to your first statement, I find what you said to be extremely thought provoking. After much consideration I think that if the material world were to become nonexistent as would our thought. In response to your second question, I think that in an unconscious state is a product of the physical world.
ReplyDeleteThat mind-body connection in a subconscious state question was interesting. We are in a unconscious state for a good chunk of our lives (sleeping). Every morning, our brain knows who we are and retains memory of things. So I'd say the mind isn't fully aware all the time, but does a pretty good job of disguising this.
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