QUOTE(robertngo @ May 31 2010, 11:19 AM)
do you think matter acts on mind or mind acts on matter.
Very good question. Can we put a rock and Tuesday together. Can we find "Pi, 3.142" in the space. Does it make sense to say I own the number seven?
Seven is an abstract idea. It can be illustrated using monitor screen, from the toy number seven, or written on a blackboard. We can not say a chalk (matter) gives raise to seven as seven is an idea and non physical.
Similary, we can not immediately adopt the materialism/reductionism approach in saying that matters would give raise to mind.
Matter is physical and occupying spaces and could be located. While mind is a holistic idea that can not be located in space, and can not be measured.
In a more philosophical explaination, should Latin language was not documented, and non of the Latin citizen exists now, hence we would normally say that Latin language is dead.
We can not say that we can find Latin language (abstract idea) on a physical body of a Latin citizen (matters), as this is a wrong approach.
Latin language is a holistic idea and can not be equate to a physical body (matters) in reductionism.
Same can be said to mind and matter. Mind is a holistic view of an abstract idea of thought and can not be bridge directly to physical matter in reductionism.
Consider asking the following question, is mind attached to a brain cell, a group of cells, or the entire brain? This is the wrong question to begin with.