exam question 2; descartes and elizabeth

Foundationalism

Foundationalism

The philosophical theory that all knowledge and beliefs rest on a foundation of indubitable truths.

Evil Demon Hypothesis

A scenario where an all-powerful demon deceives an individual about the external world, casting doubt on sensory experiences. what if everything around me is an illusion casted by this evil demon set out to dick me over?

Cogito, ergo sum

Latin for "I think, therefore I am," Descartes' conclusion that the act of doubting one's existence proves one's existence. i only know my existence.

Ontological Argument

An argument for the existence of God based on the idea that the concept of God implies existence.

Union of Mind and Body

Descartes' concept of a third entity that binds the mind and body together, explaining their interaction.

Casper Analogy

An analogy used to explain the interaction between the immaterial mind and the material body, drawing parallels to the character Casper the Friendly Ghost. like, casper at times is seen to be a transparent ghost that cant interact w material objects. but at other times, casper can pick up material things.

elizabeth of bohemia’s question to descartes’ claims?

Suppose ur right that my mind and soul arre immaterial and im not physical. And yet, i move my body. I seem to be in control of my body, and vice versa. My body influences my mind; opinions from stuff i do with my body. How is that possible? How is it possible to for an immaterial thing to move a material thing?

challenging dualism

• we know how physical stuff can move physical stuff. but we have no answers for how non-physical stuff can move physical stuff.

descarte’s premises for dualism.

1. if i can understand two things as distinct, then they are distinct/separate.

2. i can understand myself and my body as distinct/separate.

   c. i am separate from my body.

elizabeth’s premises for physicalism

1. only physical things can move/be affected by physical things

2. the mind can be affected by physical things

   c. the mind is a physical thing.

refuting descarte’s premise

1. if i can understand two things as distinct, then they are distinct/separate.

   • What is it for two things to be separate/distinct? Like code-swtiching. Or switching between friend groups. 

   • How do i think abt those things vs the nature/essence of those thing

refuting elizabeth’s premise

• Mind does not = brain. Ur physical brain moves ur physical body and the mind is a third epiphenomenon

descarte’s reponse to elisabeth

• Look ur right, the mind is separate from the body, but oops i forgot theres a third thing; the union of the mind and body. Theres mind, body, and union. 

• Theres some glue tying the mind and body tgth and its hard to think of these things at the same time.