Cartesian Dualism Flashcards

Study Notes

Central Claims of Cartesian Dualism

Central claim posits that minds and bodies are fundamentally different substances, yet closely interact.
Mind and body can theoretically exist independently of each other.

Descartes' Views on Body and Self

Body characterized as material and extended, meaning it occupies space and is tangible.
Self is defined as distinct from the body and is immaterial, representing consciousness and thought.

Self-Knowledge

Descartes argues that individuals possess immediate awareness of their own mental states in any moment.

Conceivability Argument

Claims that one can clearly and distinctly imagine the mind existing without the body, indicating a logical possibility.
If two substances (mind and body) can logically exist separately, they are distinct entities; hence, the mind is not identical to the body.

Causal Problem for Dualism

Identified as a challenge by Princess Elisabeth; centers around the interaction of mind and body as separate substances.
The mind does not have spatial extension, complicating the notion of causation between the two.

Descartes' Responses to Causal Problem

Initially, Descartes argues that mental causation differs from physical causation typically observed in the material realm.
Later identifies the pineal gland as the location through which the soul interacts with the body.

Kim's Causal Pairing Problem

Kim highlights a challenge for dualism: inability to explain how causation works between distinct substances.
Questions arise about how one mind might influence or control another body's actions, posing difficulties for the dualistic framework.

Description

Explore key concepts of Cartesian Dualism with these flashcards. Each card presents crucial definitions and claims from Descartes, focusing on the distinction between mind and body. Ideal for students looking to understand this philosophical doctrine.