History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps HoP 469 Ghost in the Machine: Cartesian Dualism
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May 11, 2025 Dive into the mind-body dichotomy with a brilliant exploration of Cartesian dualism. Discover Descartes' innovative views on the separation of the mind and body and how he challenged previous beliefs about the soul. The discussion unveils his mechanistic philosophy, revealing how he viewed animals as mere machines, raising ethical questions about their treatment. Finally, unpack the complexities of consciousness and instinct in both humans and animals, inviting deeper reflections on what it means to think and feel.
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Descartes' Unique Dualism Move
- Descartes' distinctive contribution was attributing all vital functions to matter, not the soul.
- This left the soul's role solely as thinking, separating it from bodily functions.
Mind's Awareness vs Body's Mechanics
- Descartes defines thought as immediate awareness, including will, intellect, imagination, and senses.
- Sensation and imagination are mechanical processes, but awareness of them belongs to the immaterial mind.
Limits of the Cogito’s Proof for Dualism
- The cogito argument shows certainty of the mind's existence but not the body's.
- This raises the problem that mind and body might not be distinct as he claims, but parts of the same substance.