{{Short description|Ontological category in metaphysics}} The '''mental world''' or '''mindscape''' is an ontological category in metaphysics, populated by nonmaterial mental objects, without physical extension (though possibly with mental extension as in a visual field, or possibly not, as in an olfactory field) contrasted with the physical world of space and time populated with physical objects, or Plato's world of ideals populated, in part, with mathematical objects.<ref>Synopsis of ''Consciousness and Berkeley's Metaphysics''. ... "What are the basic constituents of the mental world?", ''Consciousness and Berkley's Metaphysics'', Peter B. Lloyd, 2008 Gottlob Frege, ''Foundations of Arithmetic'' ''Problems of Philosophy'', Bertrand Russell ''History of Western Philosophy'', Bertrand Russell</ref><ref name="meta-taylor">Metaphysics, Richard Taylor, ''Foundations of Philosophy'' series</ref>
== Properties == The mental world may be populated with, or framed with, intentions, sensory fields, and corresponding objects.
The mental world is usually considered to be subjective and not objective.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}
In psychologism, mathematical objects are mental objects.
== Relation to physical world == Descartes argued for a mental world as separate from the physical world.<ref name="medi-descart">''Meditations'', Renes Descartes</ref> Debates regarding free will include how it could be possible for anything in the mental world to have an effect on the physical world. In various forms of Epiphenomenalism, the physical world can cause effects in the mental world, but not conversely.<ref name="meta-taylor" /><ref name="medi-descart" />
== See also == * Mental body * Mind-body dualism * Mind-body problem * Mindstream * Mind-wandering * Metacognition * Inner space * Descartes * Berkeley * Behaviorism * Mental operations * Object of the mind
==References== {{reflist|2}}
Category:Concepts in the philosophy of mind Category:Concepts in metaphysics Category:Cognitive science Category:Mental content