Descartes and substance dualism

what is logical privacy?

No one other than me can know my thoughts- i cannot know the thoughts of others.

why does subjectivity of consciousness require an explanation?

Conscience experiences are form a first person point of view

What is Qualia?

This is a term used by philosophers to describe how an experience feels to the person who has the experience.

What does non spatial mean in relation to the soul?

• our conscience does not take up physical space.

What is substance dualism?

the view of descartes and Plato- argues that the mind is non physical and is separate to the body.

What is Materialism?

The view of Aristotle that the explanation is a physical one and that we are one material substance.

What does Descartes say we can doubt?

It is possible to doubt all things, including whether our body is real- cannot doubt that we exist however “i think therefore i am’

What is Descartes reasoning for doubting all things?

• Senses can be unreliable- what if they were always unreliable ?

• Hard to know the difference between dreaming and being awake

• An evil demon- who has nothing better but to deceive us about everything could be in charge of the universe.

What is ‘cogito ergo sum” ?

“ I think, therefore I am” - the very act of thinking proves that there is a thinker- Yet this argument only proves the “thinking” part of us.

What is Leibniz law?

The fact that there is a difference between mind and body reveals that there are two things not one.

What is the essence of the mind according to Descartes ?

The essence of the mind is thought- non physical.

What is the wax argument?

Enables Descartes to identify the essential nature of physical matter- After the wax has change- property and extension is the only thing that remains- known through intellect

Why are the mind and body incompatible ?

their substances are incompatible.

What is the essence of the body?

Extension of physical space

What is the essence of the mind?

Non physical thought

What does Descartes say on the divisibility of the mind/body?

• Physical things can be divided into section or parts

• The mind is indivisible and immaterial.