Descartes argument on the existance of the soul Flashcards
(20 cards)
Who was René Descartes?
A 17th-century French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist.
What philosophical stance is Descartes known for?
Substance dualism.
What does substance dualism assert?
The mind (or soul) is a different and distinct substance from the body.
What is Mind-Body Dualism?
The assertion that the mind and the body are two distinct substances.
What is Descartes’ famous statement that reflects certainty about existence?
Cogito, Ergo Sum (I think, therefore I am).
What is the role of the pineal gland according to Descartes?
It is the point at which the mind controls the body.
What is Descartes’ interactionism?
The theory that the mind interacts with the body at the pineal gland.
What is the Cartesian Circle?
The argument that we can trust clear and distinct perceptions because God exists and is not a deceiver.
What distinguishes animal souls from human souls according to Descartes?
Animals lack rational souls, while humans possess rational souls responsible for consciousness.
What did Descartes believe about the immortality of the soul?
The human soul is immortal and can exist independently of the body.
What is the Argument from Doubt (Method of Doubt)?
The realization that one can doubt everything except the existence of the thinking self.
What does the Argument from Clear and Distinct Ideas entail?
Some ideas are so self-evident that they cannot be false, distinguishing mind and body as distinct substances.
What does the Argument from Divisibility state?
Physical substances can be divided, but the mind cannot, leading to the conclusion that they are distinct substances.
Fill in the blank: Descartes believed that the human soul could exist _______ of the body.
independently
True or False: Descartes believed that God exists and is a deceiver.
False
Which philosophers are mentioned as having contrasting views to Descartes?
Plato, Aristotle, David Hume, and Gilbert Ryle.
What is objective immortality?
[key learning term]
What was Descartes’ agenda concerning philosophy and theology?
To provide demonstrative proofs of the existence of God and the soul using philosophy.
What is the significance of ‘I can only trust things I perceive clearly and distinctly’ in Descartes’ philosophy?
It underpins his belief in certainty and the nature of knowledge.
What does Descartes argue regarding the nature of the mind?
The mind is non-material and exists independently of the body.
