Descartes argument for substance dualism

Question 1

which philosopher argued for substance dualism

Answer 1

descartes

Question 2

what is the claims of substance dualism

Answer 2

• there are 2 types of substances
• the mind exists and are not identical to material bodies or to parts of material bodies.

Question 3

what are the 2 types of substances

Answer 3

• physical
• non-physical

Question 4

how does descartes describe a substance

Answer 4

a fundamental ontological category which could exist independently of other substances

Question 5

how does descartes define a principle attribute

Answer 5

the defining feature of this substance that makes the substance the substance that it is

Question 6

what is the substance of a non-physical substance

Answer 6

the mind

Question 7

what is the substance of a physical substance

Answer 7

matter

Question 8

what is another word for the mind

Answer 8

res cogitans

Question 9

what is another word for mtatter

Answer 9

res extensa

Question 10

what is the principle attribute for the mind

Answer 10

consciousness

Question 11

what is the principle attribute for the matter

Answer 11

spatial extension: taking up space, the occupation of a specific location.

Question 12

what is descartes conceivability argument for substance dualism

Answer 12

P1: I can (clearly and distinctly) conceive of my mind existing without my extended physical body (and, indeed, the whole physical world) existing. God could have created it in a way that exactly responds to my thoughts. so the fact that I can clearly and distinctly think of one thing apart from another assures me that the 2 things are distinct from one another, and that there are 2 since they can be separated by god, meaning my mind is a distinct thing from my body.

P2: Anything that I can clearly and distinctly conceive of is metaphysically possible
C1: Therefore, my mind existing without my extended physical body (and indeed the whole physical world) is metaphysically possible.
P3: If it is metaphysically possible for X to exist without Y then X is not identical to Y.
C2: Therefore, my mind is not identical with my extended physical body (nor is it identical with any part of the physical world).

Question 13

how is something metaphysically possible

Answer 13

if we can conceive of it without contradiction

Question 14

what is Descartes indivisibility argument

Answer 14

P1: My mind and my mental states cannot be conceived of as being divided
P2: Everything thought of as physical can be conceived of as being divided.
C: Therefore: minds and mental states are not physical.

Question 15

what is the distinction between the mind and the body

Answer 15

• every body by its nature is divisible, but the mind cant be divided,
• when one considers the mind i.e. consider myself purely as a thinking thing, I cant detect any parts within myself; I understand myself to be something single and complete.
• The whole mind seems to be united to the whole body, but not by a uniting of parts to parts, because: If a foot or arm or any other part of the body is cut off, nothing is thereby taken away from the mind