Descartes’ Mind and Body Distinction - 817 Words

Descartes’ Mind/Body Distinction This paper will attempt to explain Descartes’ first argument for the distinction that exists between mind and body. Dualism is a necessary aspect of Descartes’ metaphysics and epistemology. This distinction is important within the larger framework of Meditations on First Philosophy (1641) because after doubting everything (body, extension, senses, etc.), Descartes comes to the conclusion that because he doubts, he must be a thinking thing and therefore exist (p.43). This means that the mind must be separate and independent from the body. One can doubt that the body exists while leaving the mind intact. To doubt that the mind exists, however, is contradictory. For if the mind does not exist, how, or with what, is that doubt being accomplished. Descartes’ argument for mind/body dualism can be simply stated in the following manner: 1. I have a clear and distinct idea of myself as a thinking thing. 2. I have a clear and distinct idea of body, whose essence is extension. 3. I can conceive of mind separate and independent of body. C. Mind and body are distinct and separate things (p. 64). Descartes has set this argument up with previous discussion earlier in the Meditations. This being so, a discussion of each premise is necessary to see how Descartes arrives at the formulation of this argument. Premise 1 is the foundational point that the first couple books in the Meditations serve in reaching. Descartes sets out to doubt everything, andShow MoreRelatedSummary Of Descartes On The Mind-Body Distinction751 Words   |  4 PagesAssignment Descartes on the Mind-Body Distinction In the Sixth Mediation, Descartes advances a compact argument for the idea that the mind and the body are distinct (2006, AT 78). In this essay, I’m going to present what I take Descartes’ argument to be, and very briefly evaluate it afterwards. Descartes starts with the thought the we can understand, at least, something, and we can understand something in a specific manner: clearly and distinctly; we can’t be wrong, according to Descartes, about thingsRead MoreDescartes’ Arguments for the Real Distinction of Mind and Body1154 Words   |  5 PagesDescartes’ Arguments for the Real Distinction of Mind and Body Descartes argues has three main arguments for minds and bodies being two different distinct types of substance. These are known as arguments for substance dualism and are as follows. * The Argument from doubt : Descartes argues that while he could pretend or think that he had no body and therefore did not exist in any place, he could not think or pretend he had no mind, as merely having aRead MoreDescartes on the Distinction Between Body and Mind1181 Words   |  5 PagesName Tutor Course Date Descartes Premise for Distinguishing Body and Mind In the Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes discusses the nature of the body and mind. By drawing from three lines of thought, Descartes launches a powerful premise that the body is something distinct from the mind. He conceptualizes his argument by using the uncertainty of knowledge argument, appealing to God’s omnipotence, and describing the indivisibility of the body and mind. 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In this essay, I will try and tackle Descartes claim and come to some conclusion as to whether Descartes is correct to sayRead MoreThe Theory Of The Mind And Matter1023 Words   |  5 PagesMind Matter Gilbert Ryle’s writing Descartes Myth provides a challenge to the â€Å"official theory† of the mind. The â€Å"official theory† of the mind is defined as the separation of the mind and body. Ryle describes the separation of the mind and body as the mind existing apart from the physical world and the body existing in the world. He writes that the two entities, the mind and body, combine to create a person. The â€Å"official theory† of the mind views the mind as private to the individual, meaningRead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy1536 Words   |  7 Pagesof course. But what is a man?† (Descartes 340). This question that Descartes addresses in Meditations on First Philosophy is important because it outlines his core philosophical view in his work. 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