TITLE:
The Science of Self, Mind and Body
AUTHORS:
Sung Jang Chung
KEYWORDS:
Self; Mind; Free Will; Evolution; Neuroscience; Prefrontal Cortex
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Philosophy,
Vol.2 No.3,
August
14,
2012
ABSTRACT: A relationship among self, mind and body in humans is still not clearly known in philosophy and science because of lack of human data that would enable to objectively explain it. Teachings related to their relationship in religions have been given to humanity in general in terms of subjective words. Consequently, philosophers and scientists have been investigating to find objective proofs related to their relationship. The author proposed a theory in his book (2009) that there are in a human individual two selves, one, the inner self (the true self) and one, the physical self (the false self) that coexist in one individual person. McGonigal (2012) published her book in which she described two minds or two selves in one human individual, naming them “I Will” and “I WANT” self on the basis of extensive studies on adult subjects. More recent researches in neuroscience using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) discovered that the prefrontal cortex of the human brain performs self-control, emotion regulation and guiding behaviors with morality, future goals and rules. The author compared characteristic aspects of the inner and physical selves of Chung with the “I Will” and “I Want” selves of McGonigal. There is a remarkable good agreement between the inner and physical selves of Chung and the “I Will” and “I WANT” selves of McGonigal. The author proposes a theory in this study that the inner and physical selves correspond to the “I WILL” and “I WANT” selves, respectively, and that the inner self, the true self, controls the physical self, the false self, interacting with the prefrontal cortex ofthe human brain.