Mind vs. Matter: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Mind refers to the element of a person that enables them to be aware, think, and feel; the consciousness or intellect. Matter, on the other hand, is the physical substance that occupies space and possesses mass.
Key Differences
The mind is abstract and non-physical, encompassing thoughts, consciousness, and intellect. Matter is tangible and physical, made of particles and occupying space.
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Nov 18, 2023
The mind perceives, interprets, and processes information, playing a key role in how we understand the world. Matter is the substance that makes up the physical world and is perceived by the mind.
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Nov 18, 2023
The mind is dynamic, constantly evolving with experiences and learning. Matter, while it can change forms, follows physical laws and remains fundamentally consistent in its properties.
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Nov 18, 2023
The mind and matter are interdependent; the mind interacts with and understands the world through matter. Similarly, matter can influence the state and health of the mind.
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Nov 18, 2023
Philosophically, the mind is often associated with consciousness and identity, while matter is associated with the physical universe and its laws.
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Nov 18, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Influence
Influences perception and understanding
Influenced by physical laws
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Interaction with World
Through perception and thought
Through physical interaction
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Mind and Matter Definitions
Mind
The mind is the center of consciousness and thought.
She changed her mind after reflecting on the situation.
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Matter
Matter is any substance that occupies space and has mass.
Scientists study the properties of matter in a lab.
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Mind
The mind is the human faculty of thinking and understanding.
His mind was quick to grasp complex concepts.
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Matter
Matter constitutes the physical stuff in the universe.
The table is made of solid matter.
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Mind
The mind refers to the intellect or brainpower of a person.
She has a sharp mind for mathematics.
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Nov 18, 2023
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Matter
Matter refers to a subject or situation under consideration.
We discussed the matter thoroughly in the meeting.
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Mind
The faculty of a human or other animal by which it thinks, perceives, feels, remembers, or desires
Studying the relation between the brain and the mind.
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Oct 19, 2023
Matter
Matter is used to signify importance or significance.
Your opinion really does matter to me.
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Nov 18, 2023
Mind
Individual consciousness, memory, or recollection
I'll bear the problem in mind.
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Mind
Desire or inclination
She had a mind to spend her vacation in the desert.
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Matter
(Philosophy) In Aristotelian and Scholastic use, that which is in itself undifferentiated and formless and which, as the subject of change and development, receives form and becomes substance.
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Oct 19, 2023
Matter
The substance of thought or expression as opposed to the manner in which it is stated or conveyed.
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Matter
A subject of concern, feeling, or action
Matters of foreign policy.
A personal matter.
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Oct 19, 2023
Mind
The thought processes characteristic of a person or group; psychological makeup
The criminal mind.
The public mind.
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Oct 19, 2023
Mind
(Philosophy) The phenomena of intelligence, cognition, or consciousness, regarded as a material or immaterial aspect of reality.
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Matter
An approximated quantity, amount, or extent
The construction will last a matter of years.
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Matter
To be of importance
"Love is most nearly itself / When here and now cease to matter" (T.S. Eliot).
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Mind
To take care or charge of; look after
We minded the children while their parents went out.
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Matter
(physics) The basic structural component of the universe, usually having mass and volume.
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Mind
The capability for rational thought.
Despite advancing age, his mind was still as sharp as ever.
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Mind
The ability to be aware of things.
There was no doubt in his mind that they would win.
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Matter
Material, especially in books or magazines.
He always took some reading matter with him on the plane.
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Mind
The ability to focus the thoughts.
I can’t keep my mind on what I’m doing.
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Matter
(philosophy) Aristotelian: undeveloped potentiality subject to change and development; formlessness. Matter receives form, and becomes substance.
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Oct 19, 2023
Mind
Somebody that embodies certain mental qualities.
He was one of history’s greatest minds.
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Matter
An affair, condition, or subject, especially one of concern or (especially when preceded by the) one that is problematic.
Is much the matter with the old plan?
Something is the matter with him.
State matters
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Mind
Judgment, opinion, or view.
He changed his mind after hearing the speech.
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Mind
Desire, inclination, or intention.
She had a mind to go to Paris.
I have half a mind to do it myself.
I am of a mind to listen.
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Mind
A healthy mental state.
I, ______ being of sound mind and body, do herebynb...
You are losing your mind.
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Matter
(obsolete) (The) inducing cause or reason, especially of anything disagreeable or distressing.
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Mind
(philosophy) The non-material substance or set of processes in which consciousness, perception, affectivity, judgement, thinking, and will are based.
The mind is a process of the brain.
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Mind
Continual prayer on a dead person's behalf for a period after their death.
A month's [or monthly] mind; a year's mind
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Oct 19, 2023
Matter
To be important.
The only thing that matters to Jim is being rich.
Sorry for pouring ketchup on your clean white shirt! - Oh, don't worry, it does not matter.
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Oct 19, 2023
Matter
That of which anything is composed; constituent substance; material; the material or substantial part of anything; the constituent elements of conception; that into which a notion may be analyzed; the essence; the pith; the embodiment.
He is the matter of virtue.
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Matter
That of which the sensible universe and all existent bodies are composed; anything which has extension, occupies space, or is perceptible by the senses; body; substance.
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Oct 19, 2023
Matter
That with regard to, or about which, anything takes place or is done; the thing aimed at, treated of, or treated; subject of action, discussion, consideration, feeling, complaint, legal action, or the like; theme.
Son of God, Savior of men! Thy nameShall be the copious matter of my song.
Every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge.
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Oct 19, 2023
Matter
That which one has to treat, or with which one has to do; concern; affair; business.
To help the matter, the alchemists call in many vanities out of astrology.
Some young female seems to have carried matters so far, that she is ripe for asking advice.
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Mind
To pay attention or heed to so as to obey; hence to obey; to make sure, to take care (that).
Mind you don't knock that glass over.
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Matter
Affair worthy of account; thing of consequence; importance; significance; moment; - chiefly in the phrases what matter? no matter, and the like.
A prophet some, and some a poet, cry;No matter which, so neither of them lie.
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Mind
To pay attention to, in the sense of occupying one's mind with, to heed.
You should mind your own business.
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Matter
Inducing cause or occasion, especially of anything disagreeable or distressing; difficulty; trouble.
And this is the matter why interpreters upon that passage in Hosea will not consent it to be a true story, that the prophet took a harlot to wife.
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Mind
To look after, to take care of, especially for a short period of time.
Would you mind my bag for me?
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Matter
Amount; quantity; portion; space; - often indefinite.
Away he goes, . . . a matter of seven miles.
I have thoughts to tarry a small matter.
No small matter of British forces were commanded over sea the year before.
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Oct 19, 2023
Matter
Substance excreted from living animal bodies; that which is thrown out or discharged in a tumor, boil, or abscess; pus; purulent substance.
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Matter
That which is permanent, or is supposed to be given, and in or upon which changes are effected by psychological or physical processes and relations; - opposed to form.
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Mind
Take note; used to point out an exception or caveat.
I'm not very healthy. I do eat fruit sometimes, mind.
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Oct 19, 2023
Matter
Written manuscript, or anything to be set in type; copy; also, type set up and ready to be used, or which has been used, in printing.
Waller, with Sir William Balfour, exceeded in horse, but were, upon the whole matter, equal in foot.
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Oct 19, 2023
Mind
(originally and chiefly in negative or interrogative constructions) To dislike, to object to; to be bothered by.
I wouldn't mind an ice cream right now.
Do you mind if I smoke?
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Oct 19, 2023
Matter
To be of importance; to import; to signify.
It matters not how they were called.
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Oct 19, 2023
Mind
The intellectual or rational faculty in man; the understanding; the intellect; the power that conceives, judges, or reasons; also, the entire spiritual nature; the soul; - often in distinction from the body.
By the mind of man we understand that in him which thinks, remembers, reasons, wills.
What we mean by mind is simply that which perceives, thinks, feels, wills, and desires.
Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
The mind shall banquet, though the body pine.
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Oct 19, 2023
Mind
The state, at any given time, of the faculties of thinking, willing, choosing, and the like; psychical activity or state;
A fool uttereth all his mind.
Being so hard to me that brought your mind, I fear she'll prove as hard to you in telling her mind.
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Oct 19, 2023
Matter
To regard as important; to take account of; to care for.
He did not matter cold nor hunger.
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Oct 19, 2023
Mind
Choice; inclination; liking; intent; will.
If it be your minds, then let none go forth.
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Matter
That which has mass and occupies space;
An atom is the smallest indivisible unit of matter
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Oct 19, 2023
Mind
Memory; remembrance; recollection; as, to have or keep in mind, to call to mind, to put in mind, etc.
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Oct 19, 2023
Matter
A vaguely specified concern;
Several matters to attend to
It is none of your affair
Things are going well
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Matter
Some situation or event that is thought about;
He kept drifting off the topic
He had been thinking about the subject for several years
It is a matter for the police
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Mind
To fix the mind or thoughts on; to regard with attention; to treat as of consequence; to consider; to heed; to mark; to note.
My lord, you nod: you do not mind the play.
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Oct 19, 2023
Mind
To occupy one's self with; to employ one's self about; to attend to; as, to mind one's business.
Bidding him be a good child, and mind his book.
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Oct 19, 2023
Matter
(used with negation) having consequence;
They were friends and it was no matter who won the games
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Oct 19, 2023
Matter
Written works (especially in books or magazines);
He always took some reading matter with him on the plane
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Oct 19, 2023
Mind
To put in mind; to remind.
He minded them of the mutability of all earthly things.
I do thee wrong to mind thee of it.
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Oct 19, 2023
Matter
Matter, in legal or formal contexts, means a subject or affair.
The court adjourned to deliberate on the matter.
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Nov 18, 2023
Mind
That which is responsible for one's thoughts and feelings; the seat of the faculty of reason;
His mind wandered
I couldn't get his words out of my head
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Oct 19, 2023
Mind
An opinion formed by judging something;
He was reluctant to make his judgment known
She changed her mind
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Oct 19, 2023
Mind
Your intention; what you intend to do;
He had in mind to see his old teacher
The idea of the game is to capture all the pieces
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Oct 19, 2023
Mind
Knowledge and intellectual ability;
He reads to improve his mind
He has a keen intellect
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Oct 19, 2023
Mind
Be offended or bothered by; take offense with, be bothered by;
I don't mind your behavior
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Mind
Be in charge of or deal with;
She takes care of all the necessary arrangements
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Oct 19, 2023
Mind
Be on one's guard; be cautious or wary about; be alert to;
Beware of telephone salesmen
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Mind
The mind is the locus of emotions and memory.
His mind was flooded with memories from his childhood.
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Nov 18, 2023
Mind
The mind encompasses a person's mental attitudes and beliefs.
Her open mind made her popular in discussions.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is thought a form of matter?
Thought is a function of the mind, not a physical form of matter.
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Nov 18, 2023
What is the essence of the mind?
The essence of the mind is its capacity for thought, consciousness, and emotion.
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Nov 18, 2023
Are mind and consciousness the same?
Consciousness is a part of the mind, particularly relating to awareness.
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Nov 18, 2023
Does matter have consciousness?
Standard scientific understanding does not attribute consciousness to matter.
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Nov 18, 2023
How does matter interact with the mind?
Matter interacts with the mind through sensory experiences and physical actions.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can the mind exist without matter?
Philosophically and scientifically, the mind is considered to depend on the physical brain, a form of matter.
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Nov 18, 2023
How do we perceive matter?
We perceive matter through our senses, interpreted by our mind.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can matter change its state?
Yes, matter can change states (solid, liquid, gas) under different conditions.
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How does the mind process information?
The mind processes information through neural pathways in the brain.
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Nov 18, 2023
What is the relationship between mind and body?
The mind and body are interconnected, each influencing the other's state.
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What role does the mind play in emotions?
The mind processes and experiences emotions.
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How do learning and experience affect the mind?
Learning and experiences reshape the mind's structure and thought patterns.
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Is intuition a function of the mind?
Intuition is considered a subconscious aspect of the mind.
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Is memory a physical part of the brain?
Memory is a mental process, but it's linked to physical structures in the brain.
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What is the smallest unit of matter?
The smallest unit of ordinary matter is an atom.
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Can matter exist in different forms?
Yes, matter can exist in various forms like solids, liquids, gases, and plasma.
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Nov 18, 2023
Is the mind solely a human trait?
While the complexity of the human mind is unique, other animals also possess minds.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can matter be created or destroyed?
According to the law of conservation of mass, matter cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
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Is energy considered matter?
Energy is a different concept, but it can interact with matter.
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How does the mind interpret reality?
The mind interprets reality through sensory input and cognitive processes.
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Nov 18, 2023
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Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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