No one can deny that science has evolved rapidly throughout history. One question, however, could not be answered, even though it has been asked since Plato's time. Do humans have minds? an entity separate from the physical brain that allows us to think? Or is there just one brain that controls everything, including choices and emotions? Thoughts have no physical properties, so how come they reside in a physical container like the brain? All these questions describe the "mind-body problem". In the article "What is it like to be a bat?" author Thomas Nagel provides his take on the mind-body problem. He begins by stating that consciousness is the reason the mind-body problem is so controversial and difficult to solve. The reductionist (i.e. materialist) believes that the mental states of every human being are simply the result of the physical components and chemical reactions of the brain. Nagel argues that every reductionist has a favorite analogy to the mind-body problem, but these examples are unrelated. They refer to issues where scientists have substantial understanding, where the conscious phenomenon is not very well understood (305). This is why, without consciousness, the mind-body problem would not be nearly as interesting or questionable (306). The author goes on to say that consciousness is widespread among humans, animals, and perhaps even life forms on other planets. If an individual has the ability to be conscious, then he must have his own point of view. There must be something it means for a person to be a person and an animal to be an animal. This “something” Nagel describes as “the subjective character of experience.” He believes that while reductionists analyze... active and objective experiences are at the center of the paper. The bat analogy is an exceptional case, because no human has the slightest idea about the bat's perception of the world. The mind-body problem is directly related to this idea. You might try to explain your perception, but you are unable to fully communicate your subjective experience. The butterfly analogy is interesting; the answer may seem obvious and then the rest of the problem is ignored. The mind-body problem cannot be solved until scientists learn more about consciousness and mental states. Physicalism (i.e. materialism) may not be the answer according to what we know now, but it may prove true in the future. Works Cited Nagel, Thomas. "What's it like to be a bat?" Philosophy: the search for truth. Ed. Louis P. Pojman and Lewis Vaughn. 7th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. 305-312. Press.