The Cogito: The Mind-Body Problem

How is it possible for a weightless, invisible mind to interact so fluently with a physically functioning organ like the brain? The mind-body problem has plagued philosophers and scientists for centuries, and the solution is yet to be discovered. The cogito is an interesting concept to study because it contrasts with functions that one may have formerly correlated with the physical brain. Descartes claimed that only humans could possibly have a cogito, therefore, we cannot attribute any actions related to the cogito with animal behavior. More specifically, Descartes interestingly believed that animals could not feel pain because pain may only be felt through the existence of the cogito. Normally, humans would believe that pain is felt by touch
Because the cogito, or mind, is invisible and takes up no space. This leaves researchers and philosophers unable to visually study anything at all. In certain terms, this weakness also ties to the strength: use of psychology to make advancements in the research of this theory. Without solid proof, the cogito is merely an idea being contemplated. However, dualism itself says that the simple idea of the cogito proves the existence of the cogito. It is quite possible that the mind-body problem is just the manipulation of words to form weak explanations to the possibility of some invisible entity directing the body to make conscious decisions. Because the cogito is a natural idea, instilled since birth, people believe in it regardless of the proof. This may also contribute to the difficulty of finding proof for its existence. Humans find it difficult to strip back the concepts they are already familiar with in order to more deeply study a concept. However, this may be exactly what is needed to solve the problem. The ultimate weakness in the dualistic mind-body problem may very well be the existence of the cogito in itself. How may something that is doing the studying, be studied? It is an endless cycle of confusion and questions that lead back to the same outcome: there is no physical evidence because physical evidence must be nonexistent. Otherwise, the presence of the cogito would immediately be disproven because it does not take up space, nor can it be seen. The evidence is in behavior, which works through the brain. One may assume the closest the human race will ever come to solving the issue of connection is through brain and mind processes that show correlation. We are aware of the fact that physical evidence cannot be found, therefore, we must be inclined to accept the idea that visual, experimental