Hello Members; This is my first post, so be nice to the newbie. I have no training in science, but have an abiding respect for it, as science is the "answer man", and I need answers that I can't find. My interest is consciousness, but not the scientific definition of conscious, unconscious, and preconscious; more the philosophical definition of consciousness as in awareness. My studies keep bringing me around to emotion, and I have begun to believe that it may be more closely linked to awareness than thought is linked to awareness. But recently, it occurred to me that emotion is also very relevant to mind, Emotion and mind are not well studied and understood, so I hoped that I could find some answers here. Traumatic shock can actually kill a person, destroying the mind, and this can be caused by emotion. Traumatic emotion can cause Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which can manipulate a person's awareness and mind involuntarily. Traumatic emotion can fracture a mind into minds, as in Multiple Personality Disorder. Strong emotion can bond minds in love, stress, trauma, etc., and these can be lifelong bonds. Strong emotion/excitement can bond minds temporarily as in a "riot mentality". It occurs to me that there is nothing, short of damage to the brain, that has as much influence on mind as emotion does. So is it possible that emotion is instrumental in the formation of mind? Is that why labor and delivery are so distressing? So a mind can form? Does this mean that any species that has a brain and strong emotion, probably has a mind as well? Lots of questions. Or maybe I am putting ideas together that do not belong together. Does anyone have any answers that can be relayed in laymen's terms? Or maybe a link where I can learn more, as I am disabled and housebound? Thank you for your consideration. Gees
