The Mind Body Problem And Substance Dualism - 869 Words

What is the mind-body problem? The mind-body problem asks the question, are the mind and body separate substances of elements of the same substance? In this paper I wish to propose, and try to provide support for Descartes notion of the immaterial mind, by critically discussing the view of substance dualism, pertaining to the relationship between the mind and body. The two arguments of which I will provide in this paper to support this view are divisibility and disembodied existence. There are two fundamentally different substances in this universe, physical and mental properties, this paper will explore both of these substances (8). The first supporting argument which I will present to support substance dualism is Divisibility. In earlier writings, Descartes divides the objects of our perception into two main classifications: mental substances pertaining to the mind and physical substances pertaining to the body (Alanen, L., 1996). Any substance with mental properties has an absence of physical properties and any substance with physical properties has an absence of mental properties (Rodriguez Pereyra, G., 2008). As Descartes defines the mind and body, as clearly and distinctly separate entities with mental and physical properties, only when considered separately from each other. But then they cannot without irrationality also be considered as united, for this would be to consider them at the same time as two different and one single substance, which, as Descartes admits,Show MoreRelatedThe Concept of Dualism Essay1013 Words   |  5 Pagesmachinequot; form of substance dualism best solves the mind body problem. My views in this area have been influenced by my twelve years of Catholic education. The soul, or mind, depending on your level of belief, was a complete and separate entity and was the center of a human being. The body was an ambulatory device that the soul directed. The idea that the mind is a separate entity and that it is independent of the physical body is the central point of substance dualism. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Read MoreIs The Mind Body Problem?1219 Words   |  5 Pagesof their main issues faced in philosophy is the mind-body problem, and philosophers are still trying to solve this predicament to this day. The mind-brain problem is trying better to understand whether a person’s mental processes are the same as their physical processes. As of today, philosophy has broken the problem into two fundamental parts that has been split down into separate subparts. Personally, I find it easier to believe in substance dualism, because of how I perceive the idea. This howeverRead MoreWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of dualism and monism?1569 Words   |  7 PagesDualism and monism is a famous philosophy topic from ancient to now. The word Dualism means that our physical and our mental are independent. 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Cartesian dualism argues that there is a two-way interaction between mental and physical substances. Renee Descartes, the creator of the theory, believed that a man consisted of matter, the physical things that walk and talk etc., and mind, the nonphysical substance (often correlated with the soul) that thinksRead MoreGraham On The Mind Body Problem1502 Words   |  7 PagesClines PHIL 290-16 April 15, 2015 Paper 2: Graham on the Mind-Body Problem The Mind/Body Problem: Dualism, Physicalism, or Both? In â€Å"The Disordered Mind†, author George Graham claims the mind/body problem to be one of the most famous problems in the history of philosophy. The mind/body problem is â€Å"the question of the place of consciousness and intentionality or of the mind in the physical world† (Graham 76). In other words, are the brain and mind two separate entities, or are they one physical entityRead MoreI, Myself, And My Body1222 Words   |  5 Pagesand My Body The mind is about mental processes and thought, while the body is the physical aspects of the brain. For years, philosophers have been perplexed by the mind-body problem. The mind is about mental processes and thought, while the body is the physical aspects of the brain. The mind-body problem discusses the mind and body, along with the relationship between them. Dualists and monists are the two types of people that take a stand on the issue. While Dualism may spilt mind and body, monismRead MoreThe Theory Of Human Matter1179 Words   |  5 Pageshuman matter is normally referred to as the body. However, unlike other nonconscious objects made of matter, humans have a somewhat unique ability to create abstract opinions and thoughts. At this time we are the only species to have the ability formulate explanations for our own existence. Essentially stating that, we humans have minds . The two general aspects that make up the thing we call human are thought to be a mind and body. The br ain and the mind are often mistakenly identified as one inRead MoreArgument of Dualism1036 Words   |  5 PagesArguments of Dualism Dualism is the theory that mind and matter are two distinct things. The main argument for dualism is that facts about the objective external world of particles and fields of force, as revealed by modern physical science, are not facts about how things appear from any particular point of view, whereas facts about subjective experience are precisely about how things are from the point of view of individual conscious subjects. They have to be described in the first person as