A Critique of the Theory of the Sameness of Mind and Brain

Having attracted the attention of thinkers for a long time, the theory of the sameness of mind and brain is one of the oldest and most important issues in the philosophy of mind. In simple terms, this theory holds that the mental states and phenomena of a person at a given time are the same as the states and processes of his brain at the same time. In this research, some of the most important principles of this theory have been discussed. Using the descriptive-critical method, this paper directs many criticisms to this theory in terms of both Western and Islamic views. Considering these criticisms, especially in the field of Islamic thought, an attempt is made to prove the abstraction of the soul and the negation of its physicality. By proving the abstraction of the soul, it seems that one cannot believe in the sameness of mind and brain, and the indefensibility of this theory is proved.