Is The Mind and The Body Separate Elements?
Descartes proposed that body (physical) and mind (spiritual) are separate entities
(dualism). Empiricists propose that the mind is a physical property of the brain. Similarly, some philosophers think that self­awareness is a sensation perceived by the brain like any other of our physical senses. In chapter 4, the discussion is about whether the mind and body are two separate entities. In Chapter 4 the story,
I Sing The Body Electric, by Walt Whitman, he male is not less
“
T the soul nor more
” (Kass, p.211). Whitman believed that the mind and the body were one unit.
In the story, hat the body knows,
W
by Chrita Banerjee Divakaruni. Aparna realizes that the mental aspect of things is in fact in conjunction with the body. Aparna believes that the body knows one thing and the mind knows another but they work in conjunction. Aparna develops a crush on her doctor which bring her back to health. Even though that there is an actual difference between the mind and the body they do work together. Some stories throughout the text conclude that the mind and the body are completely separate from each other, but we often wonder if machinery could take over our existence. In this article, we determine from Antonio
Regalado that he Brain is not computable. The debate is whether or not the brain can reproduced, for example like a lung or a kidney has. Some individuals believe that the brain can be reproduced.
For Example, Dr. Miguel Nicolelis hinks that in the future humans with brain implants
, t might be able to sense x­rays, operate distant machines, or navigate in virtual space with their thoughts. Since the brain will accommodate foreign objects including computers as part of itself.” (Regalado, 2013) I agree with the author of this article, I do not think computers will

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ever be able to replace the human brain. We as humans require a high level of interaction between an organism and the surroundings. Therefore, humans have the best ability to interact with their world and are most intelligent of all known life forms. Although computers do have the ability to help humans and replace some body parts, they do not have nearly the intelligence a human does. Having our mind and bodies reproduced could be life alternating and devastating.
Society would crumble without the lack of social interaction and the positive side of life would become immortal. Our brains are extremely unique and computers the latter, there is no way that could be duplicated.

In the assigned reading of Chapter 10, the concept was dignity and self­worth. As written

in the story,
Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals, “The value or worth of a man is, all of the all other things, his price, that is to say so much is would be given for the use of his power, and therefore is not absolute, but a thing dependent on the need and judgement of another.” (Kass, p. 572). People tend to think worth and earned dignity is based on actions.
“Thus the worth of any object which is to be acquired by our action is always conditional.”
(Kass, p. 573). Dignity and morality are based on many thoughts. “Thus morality, and humanity as capable of it, is that alone has dignity. (Kass, p. 576). In the story of , y Antonia
M
, the statement is made by and annoyed Jim “even misfortune could not humble” (Kass, p.584). In the article regarding dignity I read “Hospice Provides End­of­Life Care in Challenging
Environment” (Weinstein, 2015) In the article, it is revealed that our prison system has more physically sick people in it that need end­of­life treatment. “There are more patients with more aggressive malignancies than seen outside.” (Weinstein, 2015) Both men and women in prison

Casey Hicks 3

have cancer along with other diseases that will take their lives sooner rather than later. Many men have lung cancer and women have cervical cancer. The state of Louisiana has begun a program where the extreme cases of sick inmates get hospice care. However, the hospice care is not your typical hospice care, This program has several different levels. The levels range from super tight custody to minimum. In some situations, the inmates can actually be trained to take care of the patients. I believe that if more states took this course of action on the inmates with severe cases of sickness it would spare those inmates their dignity. Yes, they may have committed a crime but, they are still human beings. In the story Narrative of the life of Frederick
Douglass slaves were treated less than human. “If you teach that nigger (speaking for myself) how to read there will be no keeping him.” (Weinstein, 2015) We treat people a certain way because of social status, which shows humans little to no dignity. These inmate programs put in place by the state of Louisiana provide hospice care for inmates from other trained inmates as well as nurses and doctors staff. This can be a very positive solution so that inmates can still die with a certain level of dignity. However, these people have wronged others and can be very dangerous people, so it is important to take that into consideration when working with the inmates. This program lets the inmates live out the last parts of their lives in a dignified way. In my option, we deserve dignity in our dying days regardless of what we may have done or the social standard we are expected to live up to. These people are still humans and deserve to be treated as such. “There are more substance­related illnesses among prisoners, more psychiatric illnesses, and higher rates of dementia as well.” (Weinstein, 2015) These two assigned readings show strikingly different ideas of dignity.

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References

Kass, L. (Ed.). (2004). Being human: Core readings in the humanities. New York: W. W.
Norton & Co. th
Regalado,A.(2015, February 18
). The Brain is Not Computable.
Technologyreview.com.

Retrieved 5/13/2015 from http://www.technologyreview.com/view/511421/the­brain­is­not­computable/ th
Weinstein, Bette (2015, April 20
). Hospice program provides compassionate end­of­life care in

a challenging environment.
Onocologynurseadvisor.com.
Retrieved 5/12/2015 from http://www.oncologynurseadvisor.com/hospice­program­provides­compassionate­end­of­life­car e­in­a­challenging­environment/article/409943/2/