The Origin of one's Mind?

[Newton's Cat]

It is reasonable to presume that one's mind consists of, partly at least, something that developed in the womb prior to one's birth (studies of new-borns appear to indicate that they are capable of thinking rather than being mere creatures of instinct). Where did this pre-natal mind come from?

I speculate that it came from the mother - that our minds are, to some degree, the minds of our mother.

One theory of schizophrenia, which I support, has it that certain types of mental distress when experienced by the mother in the fifth or sixth month of pregnancy can result in the offspring experiencing profound mental disturbance in adult life.

Thus our female ancestral line may be thought of as a "channel" for some significant part of what we call our mind (not necessarily just the "nutty" side).

Could it be that during pregnancy "information" derived from our ancestors is layed down in our brains? Could it could take the form of discrete memories?

Could our brains be "time machines" - able to travel back into history using the female line?

Sorted makes men a bit superfluous, eh?

[andrewpkyap]

I think you jump to conclusions... Why can't a baby have a mind of its own if it has a reasonably formed brain?

Why can't "certain types of mental distress when experienced by the mother in the fifth or sixth month of pregnancy" affect the baby's brain development causing "schizophrenia"?

[Mizled]

It is reasonable to presume that one's mind consists of, partly at least, something that developed in the womb prior to one's birth (studies of new-borns appear to indicate that they are capable of thinking rather than being mere creatures of instinct). Where did this pre-natal mind come from?
Yeah, the "blank slate" hypothesis has been out of touch for a while. I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "mind" in this context. But I'm doubting that infants show a high-end ability for cognition and rather rely on basic instincts.
I speculate that it came from the mother - that our minds are, to some degree, the minds of our mother.

One theory of schizophrenia, which I support, has it that certain types of mental distress when experienced by the mother in the fifth or sixth month of pregnancy can result in the offspring experiencing profound mental disturbance in adult life.
May we see a source? I know that sometimes an infection or something during the gestation period has been casually linked with predisposing someone for schizophrenia. But as far as I recall the evidence is overwhelmingly in favor that genetics play the biggest part in the offspring developing (or having the potential to develop) a schizophrenic disorder.

Could it be that during pregnancy "information" derived from our ancestors is layed down in our brains? Could it could take the form of discrete memories?
Unless you're speaking of instinctual actions brought on by evolution then I doubt it. Memories are bits of information derived from our experiences or inquiry about the world around us, they're stored holistically in the brain. The infants memories would likely be influenced the most by the hippocampus. (I'd have to look it all up to be 100% sure though.)
Could our brains be "time machines" - able to travel back into history using the female line?
No, this doesn't make a damn bit of sense, man.

[Bob K]

One of the master concepts and principles of Philosophy and one of the requirements of The Code of Science is the use of operational definitions for defining important terms and phrases used in any discipline including science.

An operational definition defines a term or phrase by providing a description of the people, objects and events who/which are relevant to the term or phrase being defined.

An operational definition can be provided by using a forula sentence.

Example: _____ (?) [Term or phrase being operationally defined] is/is when ______ (?) [Description of the people/objects/events who/which are relevant to the term or phrase being defined].

Example: Love [Term or phrase being operationally defined] is when someone says they like you and they do nice things with you and for you [Description of the people/objects/events who/which are relevant to the term or phrase being defined].

What is the point of a discussion inre mind without an operational definition of mind?

Mind [Term being operationally defined] is/is when _____ (?) [Description of the peopleobjects/evens relevant to the term being defined].

What is the operational definition of mind being used/to be used herein?