Descartes

A detailed Summary of Descartes


Can mind exist with out the presence of body? Rene' Descartes in his Meditations on the First Philosophy, comes to the conclusion that mind and body are distinct from one another, therefore mind is not dependent on body. Descartes uses an example of a sailor to a ship. In his example Descartes states, "I am present to my body in the way a sailor is present in a ship," meaning mind is like a navigator to the body, although working together both mind and body are two separate entities (53). Mind does not depend on body because mind and body can be conceived independently of one another having distinct differences.

In Meditation Six Descartes argues that mind and body are independent. With the existence of God, Descartes explains that things can be understood, and if one thing can be understood without another, that would define the two things as separate (51). When applied to the argument that mind is not dependent on Body, Descartes states,

"And although perhaps (or rather, as I shall soon say, assuredly) I have a body that is very closely joined to me, nevertheless, because on the one hand I have a clear and distinct idea of myself, insofar as I am merely a thinking thing and not an extended thing, and


The mind and body are separate because they are conceivably independent with out one being present. This is proven by the different definitions of body and mind given by Descartes; body is divisible and mind is indivisible (56). The argument that mind and body constitute as completely one is false. It is false because the two, mind and body, are conceivably separable. The example of Schizophrenia is further proof that although something is seemingly identical as one, it can be distinguishably different. Therefore, Descartes argument that mind is distinct from body is justified.

because on the other hand I have a distinct idea of a body, insofar as it is merely an extended thing and not a thinking thing, it is certain that I am really distinct from my body, and can exist without it" (51).

The argument that mind and body are completely one would be considered false by Descartes because the mere fact that the two, mind and body, can be conceived separately without the existence of the other defines them as independent entities. Descartes supports this argument by defining body: "Likewise, I might regard a man's body as a kind of mechanism that is outfitted with and composed of bones, nerve

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Approximate Word count = 808
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Category: History

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