[Xmca-l] Re: is the mind a function of the brain?

[Martin John Packer]

Dear Jose,

I would say that sociocultural theory has a range of opinions on this. Some view mind as an inner space that is produced as a result of participation in sociocultural practices. Others seem to assume that mind exists at birth. Others say that most of us grow up with an ethnopsychology that assumes that each of us has a private and personal inner space, but that this cannot be the basis for a scientific psychology. Some assume that conscious experience is "in the mind," others that consciousness is an aspect of our active, practical relationship with the world.

You pays your money, you makes your choice.

Martin

On Jan 14, 2014, at 9:47 AM, jose david herazo <jherazo4@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Dear all,
> 
> I'm writing the final chapter of my PhD dissertation about the role of academic concepts in students' oral production and development of a second language (L2 ). Since my study is grounded on both sociocultural theory and systemic functional linguistics (SFL), one of my committee members suggested a possible contradiction in what each theory views as mind. SFLers, for instance, consider that there is no need for something called the mind that is different from the brain. They prefer to talk in terms of 'higher order semiotic consciousness' (HAlliday, 2004: The language of science) rather than mind. On their terms, the mind is a function of the brain. What is the mind for SCT? Is it the inner plane, consciousness? Has anybody discussed what this concept refers to in sociocultural theory? 
> 
> Any suggestions and comments are welcome,
> 
> JOSE DAVID HERAZO RIVERA
> 
> Foreign Languages Department, Universidad de Córdoba 
> (Montería - Colombia)
> 
> Carrera 6 No. 76-103. Tel:  7860500 - 7909800
> 
> www.unicordoba.edu.co