The defining characteristic of matter was to occupy space; the defining characteristic of mind was to be conscious or, in a broad sense of the term, to think.
Aside from these main positions, an interesting development is the stress laid by writers such as Stuart Hampshire, an "ordinary language" philosopher on self-activity as the distinguishing characteristic of mind.
Proposals that make irreducibility into a defining characteristic of mind or body are unacceptable; for they rule out reductionist approaches by fiat.
On this objection, the striving doctrine uses a kind of metaphorical language, the term 'striving', where a precise and literal account of what it is that is characteristic of mind is required.
Indeed, the belief that imagery (as opposed to verbal thought) is more characteristic of minds that are somehow defective or undeveloped was not confined to, and did not originate with, the Nazis and their sympathizers; it seems to have been widespread in the early 20th century.
Figure 1 Characteristics of the Mind the Gap questionnaire sample.
"Madame silently extracted the keys and with characteristic presence of mind dropped them in the one place she could be sure no one would ever look: down her ample bosom," Brandon writes.
"Yet, on reflection, I am sure that many will recognise it to be a decision of great courage and characteristic clarity of mind and action.
One of the defining characteristics of the mind-set of the recent boom was an irrational belief that stocks (as well as operating results and salaries and investment returns) could continue to go up indefinitely.
