Introduction to Philosophy

Lecture II
Mind-Body Dualism — Part I
Dr. Daniel Kaufman

College of Continuing Education & The Extended University

Missouri State University
Lecture II Mind-Body Dualism — Part I
René Descartes' Mind-Body Dualism
The body is a physical substance, a machine, while
the mind is a non-physical, thinking entity, which
inhabits the body and is responsible for its
voluntary movements.
— Captain on a ship metaphor on page 26
Lecture II Mind-Body Dualism — Part I
René Descartes (1596–1650)
• French philosopher and part of the
vanguard of the Scientific
Revolution
• Pioneer in the field of Optics
• Created analytic (coordinate)
geometry
Lecture II Mind-Body Dualism — Part I
René Descartes (1596–1650)
Mind-body dualism is a product of his scientific
vision and is not motivated by religious or ethical
concerns.
Lecture II Mind-Body Dualism — Part I
Scientific arguments for Dualism
1. Arguments from the nature of matter
2. Arguments from the comparison of human
beings with animals and machines
Lecture II Mind-Body Dualism — Part I
Scientific arguments for Dualism
• Arguments from the nature of matter
• Modern conception of physicality
• Qualitative vs. quantitative
• Ancient Greeks: a qualitative view of
nature/the physical world
• Modern View: a quantitative view of
nature/the physical world
Lecture II Mind-Body Dualism — Part I
Scientific arguments for Dualism
• Arguments from the nature of matter
• Modern conception of physicality
• Physical substance as a collection of three
"primary qualities": mass, volume, motion
• Problem: How does the mind fit into this
worldview? It seems to have none of the
characteristics of physical bodies.
Lecture II Mind-Body Dualism — Part I
Scientific arguments for Dualism
• Arguments from the nature of matter
• Argument from divisibility (page 28)
• Divisibility is a consequence of having volume
• Having volume is a defining characteristic of
being a physical being
Lecture II Mind-Body Dualism — Part I
Scientific arguments for Dualism
• Arguments from the nature of matter
• Argument from divisibility (page 28)
• The mind is not divisible.
• The mind does not have volume.
• All physical things have volume and are
divisible.
• Therefore, the mind is not a physical thing.
Lecture II Mind-Body Dualism — Part I
Scientific arguments for Dualism
• Arguments from the nature of matter
• Argument from divisibility (page 28)
• Argument from extension (a variation on the
argument from divisibility)
Lecture II Mind-Body Dualism — Part I
Scientific arguments for Dualism
• Arguments from the nature of matter
• Weakness of these arguments
• Dated conception of physicality
• Once energy is admitted as a manifestation
of physicality, there is no barrier to
conceiving of minds and thoughts as
physical things and processes.
Lecture II Mind-Body Dualism — Part I
Next time: Complete our discussion of Descartes'
mind-body dualism
Things to think about while you read:
• In what sense does Descartes think we are similar to
animals and machines? Different?
• What is the evidence that someone is thinking? Is his
view plausible, today?
• Descartes says that it is possible to doubt whether
one has a body, but not whether one is thinking.
Explain.