Substance Dualism - Divisibility argument and responses

This set of flashcards covers the argument and the responses to it

What is Descartes’ divisibility argument?

• Its the argument that believes that the mind and body are separate

How is the divisibility argument argued for?

• It uses the examples of being able to divide physical phenomena but you cannot possibly divide non-physical phenomena

Explain the response to the argument - The mind is divisible

• People with multiple personality disorder seem to have divided minds

• And physically, some people’s minds are divided through surgery

Explain the response to the argument - Not everything that is physical is divisible

• This response uses the example of atoms to show that after dividing a physical substance up, you will reach the point where they cannot be divided further

• This proves that not everything that is physical is divisible