What is the concept that allows for the mind to exist independently from the body?

Substance dualism is the philosophical concept that posits the existence of two distinct kinds of substances: the mental and the physical. This notion suggests that the mind and body are fundamentally different entities, each with its own characteristics and properties. In this view, the mind can exist independently from the body, implying that mental states, thoughts, and consciousness are not merely products of physical processes, such as neural activity.

Substance dualism asserts that the mind has a non-physical essence, allowing it to function separately from the physical body. This lays the groundwork for many discussions in philosophy of mind and influences various theories in psychology and healing practices, including aspects of chiropractic philosophy, where an understanding of the relationship between the mind and body is critical for holistic healing approaches.

Other concepts, though related, do not fully encapsulate the idea of an independent existence of the mind from the body. For instance, property dualism suggests that mental states are properties arising from physical substances rather than existing as separate. Mechanism emphasizes a scientific understanding of living processes in purely physical terms, while vitalism posits a life force but does not address the relationship between consciousness and the physical body in the same independent sense as substance dualism.