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Mind
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{{Short description|Totality of psychological phenomena}} {{Other uses}} {{Featured article}} {{CS1 config|mode=cs1}} [[File:Mental capacities.svg|thumb|alt=Diagram of a head with symbols for different mental capacities inside it|The mind is responsible for phenomena like [[perception]], [[thought]], [[feeling]], and [[Action (philosophy)|action]].]] The '''mind''' is that which [[Thought|thinks]], [[Feeling|feels]], [[Perception|perceives]], [[imagination|imagines]], [[memory|remembers]], and [[Will (philosophy)|wills]]. It covers the totality of '''mental''' phenomena, including both [[Consciousness|conscious]] processes, through which an individual is aware of external and internal circumstances, and [[Unconscious mind|unconscious]] processes, which can influence an individual without intention or awareness. The mind plays a central role in most aspects of human life, but its exact nature is disputed. Some characterizations focus on internal aspects, saying that the mind transforms information and is not directly accessible to outside observers. Others stress its relation to outward conduct, understanding [[Mental state|mental phenomena]] as dispositions to engage in observable behavior. The [[mind–body problem]] is the challenge of explaining the relation between matter and mind. Traditionally, mind and matter were often thought of as distinct [[Substance theory|substances]] that could exist independently from one another. The dominant philosophical position since the 20th century has been [[physicalism]], which says that everything is material, meaning that minds are certain aspects or features of some material objects. The evolutionary history of the mind is tied to the development of [[nervous system]]s, which led to the formation of [[brain]]s. As brains became more complex, the number and capacity of mental functions increased with particular brain areas dedicated to specific mental functions. Individual human minds also develop over time as they learn from experience and pass through psychological stages in the process of aging. Some people are affected by [[mental disorder]]s, in which certain mental capacities do not function as they should. It is widely accepted that at least some [[non-human]] [[animal]]s have some form of mind, but it is controversial to which animals this applies. The topic of [[Artificial consciousness|artificial minds]] poses similar challenges and theorists discuss the possibility and consequences of creating them using computers. The main fields of inquiry studying the mind include [[psychology]], [[neuroscience]], [[cognitive science]], and [[philosophy of mind]]. They tend to focus on different aspects of the mind and employ different methods of investigation, ranging from [[empirical observation]] and [[neuroimaging]] to [[conceptual analysis]] and [[thought experiments]]. The mind is relevant to many other fields, including [[epistemology]], [[anthropology]], religion, and education.
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