mind and body

[spiral]

Here’s something that came to mind ever since our mind over body discussion in the Theories of Love thread.


My question is…

Does life of the mind, come at the expense of life of the body?

[Anonymouse]

I think so.

[ckBejug]

I think I understand your question... If so, then..... No. I don't think so. The life of the mind sometimes deteriorates faster than the life of the body, other times, it's the other way around. It all depends on the situation. I think in general that the two are inextricably linked. Exercise your mind and body both and they will stay healthy and 'last longer' so to speak, barring any unforseen circumstances. Then there are the diseases that make our minds or our bodies deteriorate, usually one faster than the other. If you are talking about someone with Parkinson's disease for example, the life of the mind comes at the expense of the life of the body. If you are talking about someone with Alzheimer's disease, the life of the body comes at the expense of the life of the mind.

[loseyourname]

I don't think that's what she was getting at. I'm going with the mouse on this one. I think what she means is that as a person grows more intellectually minded, the body tends to be a tad bit neglected. Take me, for instance. I used to be a fairly athletic person. I worked out a lot, looked good, all that. None of that happens anymore. The more attention I focus on developing my cerebral capacities, the less I have to focus on physical prowess. I like to use Stephen Hawking as an example. The dude's a supergenius, but he's basically just a brain encapsulated in a non-functioning body. Granted, it isn't because of his mental acumen that his body suffers, but still. I think attention paid to one comes at the expense of attention paid to the other. The Rock isn't going to be winning any math awards any time soon and Brian Greene isn't going to be winning any body building contests.

[ckBejug]

I still disagree. There is such a thing as a balance between exercising both your mind and your body. I'm sure, for example, that if you stopped posting online and spent the time to take your dog for a walk, or tossing me that baseball, anything active for a good hour or more, then your body would be just as active as your mind gets now that you're exercising it with school, thought, and extracurricular reading. I don't see why the two need to interrupt eachothers development. I think the key is time management. As for the Rock or Steven Hawking.. Steven Hawking has ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or Lou Gehrig's disease, which is a neuromuscular disease that weakens muscle control and he lost his ability to speak because of an operation to help him breathe better... he didn't deteriorate because he was too busy sharpening his mind. As for the Rock, well he chose to strengthen some muscles and not others... Had he spent as much time building his brain as he did his lateral biceps and etc I'm sure he would have been able to solve at least one or two of our brain teasers. But don't get me wrong, some people just aren't smart enough no matter how much they exercise their mind (I am not trying to be insulting, it's a fact of life...) but still, a happy medium between both and there is no reason you should sacrifice one for the other..........................

[loseyourname]

I don't know man. If you want to be in the upper echelon of either, I think you need to give up the other, as least to some extent. You don't need to let your legs atrophy to win a nobel prize in physics, but you aren't going to have much time to sculpt an underwear model body or run a four-minute mile.

[patlajan]

You're all full of crap. The mind and body are one. One can not function well without the other. Neglecting the body in the name of concentrating on the mind is an excuse for your lack of determination, which is a symptom of the weakness of the mind resulting in the suffering of the body.

[ckBejug]

Originally posted by loseyourname I don't know man. If you want to be in the upper echelon of either, I think you need to give up the other, as least to some extent. You don't need to let your legs atrophy to win a nobel prize in physics, but you aren't going to have much time to sculpt an underwear model body or run a four-minute mile.

She asked if one is at the EXPENSE of the other. I still say no. Perhaps it's a deep-seated wish I have to be good at everything I try........? Maybe.

Do you have to run like Marion just to be in great health and sound body, or do you have to crack the genetic code to be great in mind? I still say one doesn't have to waste away bevause you're to busy strengthening the other. Be brilliant as YOU can be at both. Which means if you can solve a physics dilemma in 2 minutes and run a mile in 9 minutes (because that's the best YOUR BODY can do), so be it.

[ckBejug]

Originally posted by patlajan You're all full of crap. The mind and body are one. One can not function well without the other. Neglecting the body in the name of concentrating on the mind is an excuse for your lack of determination, which is a symptom of the weakness of the mind resulting in the suffering of the body.

Like I said initially... the two are inextricably linked...

[patlajan]

Originally posted by ckBejug Like I said initially... the two are inextricably linked...

I always liked you.