Descartes’ Arguments for the Real Distinction of Mind and Body

Descartes’ 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 a doubt that he had a mind proves that he does.

* The Argument from Clear and distinct understanding: Descartes

argues that if two things can be separated even if only by god

then they must be two different things. Descartes says that as he

can perceive minds and bodies clearly and distinctly from each

other they must be two separate things we just don't know how to

separate them.

* The Argument from simplicity: Descartes argues that bodies can be

divided into parts whereas minds cannot meaning that the two must

be different things.

For our minds to be separate from our bodies first of all we have to

exist otherwise there is nothing about which to argue and no stand

point to argue from. Also we must be able to believe that things of

which we think in this case minds and bodies exist and that if we

perceive something as correct it must be true. So it is important to

all of Descartes's arguments to establish not only that we exist but

also that we can be certain of what we claim to know. The cogito is

Descartes's claim “that I thinking therefore I exist” Descartes says

that as he can convince himself of something he must exist, as ev...

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...tance distinct from the body.

In conclusion i think that Descartes arguments approach an answer but

really it is only with a better definition of what a mind entails that

he could truelly prove bodies and minds are separate If we know bodies

are a physical thing that can be examined, separated and destroyed and

we knew for sure that minds are not a physical thing but can be broken

so therefore and along with the cogito must exist, then the mere fact

that the two things are made of a different substance ,i.e. matter and

something we are as of yet unable to explain, makes minds and bodies

two separate things.

References

Rene Descartes, The philosophical writings of Descartes, Vol 2, 1911

(Cambridge, Cambridge university press)

John Locke, An essay concerning human understanding, Book 2, Ch27,

(1689)