NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Conceivability Argument The Sixth Meditation of Descartes contains two arguments in defence of Cartesian dualism: First, since the mind and the body can each be conceived clearly and distinctly apart from each other. It follows that god could cause either to exist independently of the other, and this satisfies the traditional criteria for a metaphysical real distinction. (Med. VI) Second, the essence of body as a geometrically defined region of space includes the possibility of its infinite divisibility, but the mind, despite the variety of its many faculties and operations, must be conceived as a single, unitary, indivisible being; since incompatible properties cannot inhere in any one substance, the mind and body are perfectly distinct. (Med. VI) This radical separation of mind and body makes it difficult to account for the apparent interaction of the two in my own case. In ordinary experience, it surely seems that the volitions of my mind can cause physical movements in my body and that the physical states of my body can produce effects on my mental operations. But on Descartes view, there can be no substantial connection between the two, nor did he believe it appropriate to think of the mind as residing in the body as a pilot resides within a ship.
The argument from these three results is presented in a single paragraph, and precedes the proof of the existence of material things. This reflects Descartes belief that we can know that mind and body are distinct substances, capable of separate existence, before we know whether any corporeal thing actually exists - because we know that the nature of body is extension. This argument has been called the Conceivability or Epistemological argument. Descartes argues that the mind and the body are completely different because the former is indivisible, while the latter is divisible. ) The claim that mind and body are really distinct has a technical meaning for Descartes. Descartes moves from the fact that he has a clear and distinct idea of himself (i. e.
a mind) as simply a thinking, non-extended thing and a distinct idea of body as simply an extended, non-thinking thing to the claim that mind can exist apart from body (and vice versa). But there is a worry about this move. According to Descartes, he can separate mind and body (or thinking and extension) in his thought. But why does that show that mind and body (or thinking and extension) are capable of separate existence in reality? Suppose one looks out of the window and see a tree, but not its roots, which are buried in the earth. One may form the idea of a tree without roots; but it would be rash to conclude from this that a tree can exist without roots.
Similarly, one may look within his / her mind and be ware of the existence of thought, but unaware of the existence of body. If one then forms an idea of a thinking thing without material properties (extension), surely it would also be rash to conclude that mind can exist without body. The basic worry is that Descartes is moving too swiftly from a premise about his ideas, or what he is aware of, or can conceive, to a conclusion about things, or how things are, or what is possible. It is possible that all knowledge of external objects, including my body, could be false as the result of the actions of an evil demon.
It is not, however, possible that I could be deceived about my existence or my nature as a thinking thing. Therefore, our mind is much more clearly and distinctly known to us than our body. Descartes still has no knowledge of anything outside of his mind. He still has to make the crucial leap to the existence of an object outside of his mind. He must do this, however, strictly on the basis of the contents of his own mind. It is the idea of God that he finds in his mind that allows him to make this leap, and which forms the basis for his knowledge of all other external objects.
Even though Descartes ideas do make sense in many ways, there are several problems with his radical split between the mind and the body. For example, if mind and body are radically different, it is hard to see how they can interact with each other. In particular, it is hard to see how an unexpended substance can interact with an extended one. Yet mind and body do seem to interact in both directions: The mind affects the body: This seems to happen whenever we act. The mind decides to do something and the body does it. The body affects the mind: a.
In sense perception, our sense organs seem to affect and produce images in our mind. b. Damage to our brain or the influence of drugs on our body often affects our mind. Descartes is an extremely interesting philosopher in all respects.
Whether he is right or wrong in his ideas is up to every person to decide, but is it un doubtful that knowing Descartes ideas do give much food for the brain.
Free research essays on topics related to: descartes ideas, mind and body, distinct idea, thinking thing, external objects
Research essay sample on Mind And Body Descartes Ideas
