Don't assume that I am that stupid with semantics and linguistic.Peter Holmes wrote: ↑Fri Mar 19, 2021 8:01 am You seem confused. Let me help. A word, such as what we confusingly call an abstract noun, is a real thing that actually exists as a sound, marks on paper or screen, a signing gesture, and so on. Abstract nouns exist physically, as do brains.
The trouble is we use nouns to name things, so we fool ourselves into thinking that abstract nouns must also be the names of things - thing which must therefore exist somewhere, somehow, and which can therefore be described. Hence metaphysical theories of knowledge, truth, goodness, beauty, identity, justice, causation, and so on - insert the abstract noun of choice - hence philosophical delusion over at least two and a half millennia.
And the word 'mind' is one of those abstract nouns. Hence the absurdity of the so-called mind-body problem, the claim that consciousness can't arise from matter (a common apologetic canard supposedly justifying substance-dualism and supernaturalism) - and hence fatuous gotcha questions like 'well, if there are no abstract things, why are you talking about moral rightness and wrongness?'
We've always used metaphors to talk about our brain activity, and the orchestra/symphony comparison is one example - though notice that the symphony is a real, physical thing - not some mystical, abstract emanation. The expression 'emergent property' is another and very common metaphor: what we call 'mind' is a property of the brain. And metaphors have their uses - but they can easily lead us astray, as the history of our talk about the supposed abstract or non-physical thing we call the mind demonstrates.
A "noun" in one perspective is a word on paper or spoken.
A noun in reality is a thing that has a physical referent and exists as real empirically.
E.g. the word 'apple' denote a real physical solid apple as referent out there.
1. An abstract noun is also a word on paper or spoken.
2. Some abstract nouns do not have a physical referent but exists empirically, e.g. red.
3. Some abstract nouns are things that are non-physical but supervene on a physical referent, e.g. the human mind, a team, a symphony orchestra and the likes.
4. Some abstract nouns do not have a physical referent and do exist as real, e.g. ghost and other metaphysical entities.
Within physicalism, 3 would be considered to be 'physical' rather than non-physical [not solid].
To insist terms like 'mind' 'symphony orchestra' a team and the likes are metaphors is one of the most stupid assertion I have come across.
In that case, a "table" is also a metaphor that is equivalent to a cluster of C, H, O, N, P, K, molecules.
Actually to be more refine most aspect of reality can be related metaphorically, but generally we do not resort to such analysis conventionally as in this case with 'mind' and the likes.
The critical point here is whatever the term, what is critical on what is claimed, e.g. mind, symphony, team, and the likes must be verifiable and justifiable empirically and philosophically within a credible FSK.
Things like mind, symphony, team, and the likes occupy space and time and have cause and effect elements, thus can be verified, justified and tested.
A thing or fact called a 'team' comprising of individual humans can produce synergy that the humans as individuals cannot.
It is the same with that thing called 'mind' which can produce synergy the individual neurons and chemical cannot.
Do you understand what is synergy?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synergy
Synergy is an interaction or cooperation giving rise to a whole that is greater than the simple sum of its parts.
As I had stated your thinking is too narrow, shallow, ignorant and dogmatic as inherited from the bastardized philosophies of the logical positivists [defunct] and the classical analytic philosophers.