Descartes Argument: Communication Between The Mind And Body

Descartes uses the notion of conceivability to argue that the mind exists independently from the body by arguing that the human population cannot be only made out of physical material. Descartes claims the physical body must be separated from the nonphysical mind. Descartes argument differs from materialists’ beliefs. Materialists believe that “every object and event in the world is physical. So mental states must be physical states” (Textbook, p.198). Descartes argument differs from materialist’s view because Descartes believed that people had nonphysical minds. Descartes argument succeeds because it is logically possible to conceive the thought that anyone could exist without a body. If anyone could exist without their body than, the mind and body and not equal but two separate entities. The claim that the body and mind are two separate entities makes Cartesian dualism true. Cartesian dualism states that the mind is the soul and it is not dependent on the body, and the body

The question remains how a nonphysical property can communicate with a physical property. Descartes does not explain how the communication happens between the mind and body. The lack of explanation of how the communication happens is another reason why Descartes argument is not sound. The premises cannot be found true between the communication of the mind and body, so the conclusion is inconclusive. The other weakness with Descartes argument and Cartesian Dualism is that it is not compatible with science. Descartes argument and Cartesian Dualism goes opposes the causal closure of the physical. Causal closure of the physical assumes that it “can explain every event without reference to the immaterial” (Textbook 207). In Substance Dualism, the mind is immaterial and goes against the scientific belief of causal closure of the physical, because events can be explained without mention of the