Descartes and Dualism

• What idea did Descartes put forward?

  The mechanical world view
• What is the Mechanical World View?

  The idea that the world runs according to fixed laws of nature. Descartes believe that nature and living things were like machines too
• How did Descartes test his theory?

  He did experiments on living animals (such as dogs) to study how the different parts worked. He argued that a beating heart was just like a mechanical pump
• What did Descartes believe separated humans from animals?

  The soul
• What does dualism mean?

  The mind and body are distinct, seperate substances
• What are the two kinds of substances?

  Matter and mind
• What did Descartes say about the difference between the soul and the body?

  The human body is mechanical. For example, if a doctor hits your knee your body will kick out because of reflexes.
• What makes human beings special?

  The rational soul. The soul is non-spatial and conscious. It is private and non-observable. Whereas the body is material, conscious and publicly observable
• Where does the soul interact with the brain according to Descartes?

  The pineal gland
• Ghost in the machine

  Descartes argued that the soul is a non-material ghost in the machinery of the body. However, philosopher Gilbert Ryle called this view the ghost in the machine was which a direct argument against Descartes, dismissing the dualist theory and instead embracing the idea of materialism
• What is materialism?

  The theory that our minds are inseparable from our bodies
• What phrase does Descartes use to argue that we cannot doubt our own existence?

  Cogito ergo sum - 'I think, therefore I am
• Why does cogito ergo sum provide evidence for our own existence?

  We have our own thoughts. We can doubt our material existence but not our own existence. If we try to think, we are already thinking so therefore we must exist
• What did Descartes dualism of mind and body rest on?

  - the mind is a non corporeal substance which is distinct from bodily substance

  - the mind and body are different things

  - every substance has a property of special character

  - the body is extended, unlike the mind

  - ideas are in the mind, not waiting to be grasped

  - the mind is the place which the only person experiencing them knows all feelings, sensations and thoughts

  - the body performs all physical activities

  - the mind and body interact with each other

  - the mind and body are seperate
• What does res extensa mean?

  Extended substance / taking up space. Physical matter
• What does res cogitans mean?

  Mind / thinking. Not physically visible
• What did Descartes say about how physical affects the mind?

  The mind is wholly indivisible. The body can be changed by a haircut or loss of limbs. The physical change does not affect the mind
• How can this be disputed against?

  When a drastic physical change occurs, it does affect the mind particularly someone's wellbeing. Therefore, Descartes is incorrect
• What is Descartes evidence?

  You can doubt everything except your existence
• What does Descartes say about your mind in the afterlife?

  When people die, their soul continues to live on as the same person with God
• How do we live on in the afterlife?

  Descartes concluded that as our identity comes from our ability to think and reason, then it was conceivable that we could survive without our bodies and remain the same person. We do not need our bodies to live an intellectually aware and active life. Therefore, Descartes believed the mind could survive the death of the body. The mind gives personal identity, not our bodies