What is Dualism - courtesy of A_Smoking_fox Options

What is dualism.

When we have established what we think dualism is, A_Smoking_Fox would like to branch off into and discuss different parts which will probably go into a new thread.

Which part of dualism are we interested to explore in this topic.

So any offers?

So, could we say that we want to explore the relativity (or difference or connection) between pairs of thoughts or things or states that mind interprets as opposite and are not described by scientific definitions in such a way that the use of the mental description carried no information that could not be expressed without it?
For example, what is hot or cold depends on my perception at the moment, but what is black or white is defined very specifically by science and one could substitute these last terms by their scientific definitions and say exactly the same thing.

Yes, thats where i want to go exactly.

As far as the defenition of the mind goes. As long as we can limit what the the mind does it is good enough. Just how it does this is not so important for our discussion, and it would lead us, as you say, of topic.
Your defenition is better suited for this discussion than mine, i sometimes get to magical in these things, wich leaves to many options open for a decent discussion.
I am willing to go then with this defenition.

The mind is a non-physical phenomenon, partly identified with, and partly distinguished from the soul that is manifested in thought, perception, self-consciousness, emotion, will, memory, imagination and reaction to the environment.

To me, dualism references four different kinds of two-fold dynamics:



1. dichotomy: x / not-x

-- where x and not-x are not the same

-- where x and not-x can be, but are not necessarily, poles of a polarity, antithetical with each other, or complements


2. polarity: x / y

-- where x is not-y, and y is not-x

-- where x and y can be, but are not necessarily, antithetical and/or complements

-- where x and y are the two diametrical extremities along a continuum of combinational gradiations from one to the other


3. antithesis: (x vs. y) and (y vs. x)

-- where x is not-y, and y is not-x

-- where x and y can be, but are not necessarily, poles of a polarity

-- where x either negates (or attempts to negate) y

-- where y either negates (or attempts to negate) x


4. complementarity: x and y

-- where x is not-y, and y is not-x

-- where x and y can be, but are not necessarily, poles of a polarity

-- where x and y can be, but are not necessarily, antitheticals

-- where x has that which y is lacking, and y has that which x is lacking, such that when x and y integrate together through relationship they complete each other.



ALthough I associate all four of those two-fold dynamics with the general term "duality," - when exactness is required, I use whatever specific term amongst those four is accurate for explaining the appropriate two-fold dynamic being discussed.

This post has been edited by Praxis: Mar 3 2006, 06:04 AM