Editing Mind (section)

== Definition ==
The mind is the totality of psychological phenomena and capacities, encompassing both [[consciousness|conscious]] and [[Unconscious mind|unconscious]] states. The term ''mind'' is sometimes used in a narrow meaning to refer only to cognitive functions associated with [[perception]], [[Logical reasoning|reasoning]], [[awareness]], and [[memory]]. In a broader sense, it also includes processes like [[feeling]], [[motivation]], and [[behavior]].<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Kim|2011|pp=2, 6}} | {{harvnb|American Psychological Association|2018|loc=[https://dictionary.apa.org/mind § Mind]}} | {{harvnb|HarperCollins|2022|loc=[https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=mind § Mind]}} | {{harvnb|HarperCollins|2024}} | {{harvnb|Morton|2005|p=603}} | {{harvnb|Paivio|2014|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=FaGYAgAAQBAJ&pg=PR6 vi–vii]}} }}</ref> The precise definition of mind is disputed and while it is generally accepted that some non-human animals also have minds, there is no agreement on where exactly the boundary lies.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Sharov|2012|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=oQ5HAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA343 343–344]}} | {{harvnb|Carruthers|2019|pp=ix, 29–30}} | {{harvnb|Griffin|1998|pp=53–55}} }}</ref> Despite these disputes, there is wide agreement that mind plays a central role in most aspects of human life as the seat of consciousness, emotions, thoughts, and sense of personal identity.<ref>{{harvnb|Stich|Warfield|2008|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=NEGK_ZStddkC&pg=PR9 ix–x]}}</ref> Various fields of inquiry study the mind; the main ones include [[psychology]], [[cognitive science]], [[neuroscience]], and [[philosophy of mind]].<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Pashler|2013|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=lu3aMe6kRowC&pg=PR29 xxix–xxx]}} | {{harvnb|Friedenberg|Silverman|Spivey|2022|pp=14–17}} }}</ref>

The words ''[[Psyche (psychology)|psyche]]'' and ''mentality'' are usually used as synonyms of ''mind''.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|American Psychological Association|2018|loc=[https://dictionary.apa.org/mind § Mind], [https://dictionary.apa.org/psyche § Psyche]}} | {{harvnb|Merriam-Webster|2024|loc=[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mentality § Mentality]}} | {{harvnb|Kim|2011|p=7}} }}</ref> They are often employed in overlapping ways with the terms ''[[soul]]'', ''spirit'', ''[[cognition]]'', ''[[intellect]]'', ''[[intelligence]]'', and ''[[brain]]'', but their meanings are not exactly the same. Some religions understand the soul as an independent entity that constitutes the immaterial essence of human beings, is of divine origin, survives bodily death, and is [[Immortality|immortal]].<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|HarperCollins|2022|loc=[https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=soul § Soul]}} | {{harvnb|Kim|2011|pp=5, 31}} | {{harvnb|Swinburne|1998|loc=Lead Section}} }}</ref> The word ''spirit'' has various additional meanings not directly associated with mind, such as [[Spirit (animating force)|a vital principle animating living beings]] or a [[Spirit (supernatural entity)|supernatural being]] inhabiting objects or places.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|HarperCollins|2022|loc=[https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=spirit § Spirit]}} | {{harvnb|Merriam-Webster|2024|loc=[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirit § Spirit]}} }}</ref> Cognition encompasses certain types of mental processes in which [[knowledge]] is acquired and [[information]] processed.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|HarperCollins|2022|loc=[https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=cognition § Cognition]}} | {{harvnb|Bermúdez|2014|p=16}} }}</ref> The intellect is one mental capacity responsible for thought, reasoning, and understanding<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|HarperCollins|2022|loc=[https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=intellect § Intellect]}} | {{harvnb|Merriam-Webster|2024|loc=[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intellect § Intellect]}} }}</ref> and is closely related to intelligence as the ability to acquire, understand, and apply knowledge.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Bernstein|Nash|2006|pp=273–274}} | {{harvnb|Nairne|2011|p=312}} | {{harvnb|Merriam-Webster|2024|loc=[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intelligence § Intelligence]}} }}</ref> The brain is the physical organ responsible for most or all mental functions.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|American Psychological Association|2018|loc=[https://dictionary.apa.org/mind § Mind]}} | {{harvnb|Uttal|2020|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=WSbxDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT98 96–97]}} | {{harvnb|Jaworski|2011|p=4}} }}</ref>

The modern English word ''mind'' originates from the [[Old English]] word {{lang|ang|gemynd}}, meaning "memory". This term gave rise to the [[Middle English]] words {{lang|enm|mind(e)}}, {{lang|enm|münd(e)}}, and {{lang|enm|mend(e)}}, resulting in a slow expansion of meaning to cover all mental capacities. The original meaning is preserved in expressions like ''call to mind'' and ''keep in mind''. [[Cognate]]s include the [[Old High German]] {{lang|goh|gimunt}}, the [[Gothic language|Gothic]] {{lang|got|gamunds}}, the [[ancient Greek]] {{lang|grc|μένος}}, the [[Latin]] {{lang|la|mens}}, and the [[Sanskrit]] {{lang|sa|manas}}.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Hoad|1993|p=294}} | {{harvnb|Smith|1996|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=pl0Cgb4IMKUC&pg=PA105 105]}} | {{harvnb|Cresswell|2010|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=J4i3zV4vnBAC&pg=PA275 275]}} | {{harvnb|Weekley|2012|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=VigsBojU2c4C&pg=PA931 931]}} | {{harvnb|Giannopulu|2019|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Z8uJDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA6 6]}} }}</ref>{{efn|Not all languages have a word that directly corresponds to the English word ''mind''. For example, [[German language|German]] uses the word {{lang|de|Geist}}, which can mean both {{gloss|mind}} or {{gloss|spirit}}.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Williams|1992|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=8LyJ1I3GhcUC&pg=PA2 2–3]}} | {{harvnb|Hawkins|2023|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=yEm8EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA167 167]}} }}</ref>}}