Philosophy: Is strength physical or mental?

[Nostradamus]

I would just like to throw this question around and see what comes out of it as it is what my philosophy group will be discussing on Monday.

In other words: Mind over matter or matter over mind?

I think that strength is mental and you cannot have physical strength without mental strength. I belive mental strength (ie willpower, motivation etc) helps you get physical strength. I do not believe strength is physical because we all start off with a certain amount of physical mass (muscles) which requires the use of our brain to work. I realise that quite a lot of body builders are not the brightest bulb in the fridge but this is only because most of their strength (mental) is focused towards developing more physical mass.

Does any agree with me? Even better does anyone disagree with me?

[Morkeliph]

Well, I don't think it'll suprise anyone where I stand on this.

As to physical strength depending upon mental strength, what exactly is mental strength? Do you really have free-will? That's a question that really is interesting if you ask me. Is your behavior environmentally shaped or do you possess an internal governing agent that allows you to behave "anyway you want?"

[Mindslaver]

If one takes the stance that the mind is matter, then matter overrides the mind. Personally, I think that the separation of mind and matter is odd - the mind is composed of molecules, as is the "matter" of which we speak. However, acknowledging this fact is very depressing to most humans, and so I will avoid that line of argument.

Instead, I believe in mind over matter. The strongest man in the world would not win a weight-lifting contest if he did not have the motivation to go to the contest in the first place. Though it sounds trite, attitude and motivation are everything.

However, one cannot be without the other, and only when both are present do physical and mental strengths manifest themselves.

[Morkeliph]

Personally, I think that the separation of mind and matter is odd - the mind is composed of molecules, as is the "matter" of which we speak. However, acknowledging this fact is very depressing to most humans, and so I will avoid that line of argument.The mind is composed of molecules? That's news to me! I didn't know that anyone had actually found this alleged "mind" that you speak of.

[Mindslaver]

The mind is composed of molecules? That's news to me! I didn't know that anyone had actually found this alleged "mind" that you speak of.
If the mind is contained in the brain, and the brain is a biological organ, and biological organs are composed of organic molecules, it can be concluded that the mind is composed of molecules. Again, this is a depressing thought.

[Morkeliph]

That is a very big "if" that you're relying upon to make factual statements. As I have argued before, the "mind" as some sort of metaphysical entity has never been proven to exist. The brain does, and the electro-chemical signals of neurons do, exist. As for some mystical, metaphysical governing agent, such as the mind, which gives organisms free-will and motivation; we cannot prove that there is such a thing. We can show that human (and animal) behavior is shaped by its environmental effects, and this allows us to explain behavior without reference to an "intrapsychic apparatus." As for the theory that "mental energy (or strength)" producing physical strength, it's entirely bogus! What does mind have to do with it? Physical strength is the result of excersise and health, not some mystical mental power. The decision to exercise is guided by your environment and social conditioning, not some internal motivation to "get ripped." You exercise because it's rewarding. Why is it rewarding? Well, that may differ from person to person. Some people might like the feeling (chemicals in the bloodstream) that it produces, others might enjoy the social reinforcement it brings (chicks... ;) ). However, there is no need to suggest that some internal agent caused your exercising. For this reason I say that there is no such thing as "mind over matter;" there is no such thing as mind in general.