Substance dualism -Descartes' conceivability argument and responses

This set of flashcards outlines the argument and it's responses

What is the conceivability argument?

It’s the argument that attempts to prove that the mind and body are two separate substances

How does Descartes’ try to prove that the mind and body are two separate entities?

He does this by explaining that because he can conceive of it, that it must be true

How do behaviourists counter Descartes’ conceivability argument? and what example do they use to validate this counter?

• Behaviourists point out that to conceive of the mind without the body is not possible

• They say that to have mental states is like having behavioural dispositions and to have those dispositions disposed is to be disposed to move your body in certain ways

• And they say its inconceivable to be disposed to move your body in a certain way

What is the counter to do with physical possibility?

• This counter says that what may be metaphysically possible (conceivability) may not actually be physically possible

• This is referring to the conceivability argument - it is metaphysically possible but not logically possible

What is the masked man fallacy?

• It’s the claim that the mind without the body is conceivable to the conclusion that mind exists without the body in reality

What example does the masked man fallacy use to prove their point?

• They use the example of batman and Bruce wayne to demonstrate that even though it might be conceivable, this tells us nothing of how things are in reality