Learning objective:To be able to explain the claim that the mind is ontologically distinct from the body;To understand Descartes’ conceivability argument for substance dualism and some issues with it

KEY WORDS

SUBSTANCE DUALISM

Substance

Property

Ontology

• You need• Lacewing handout (on word document)

• Do you have a soul?• Can the soul continue to exist after the death of

the body?

If you answered yes to these, you are probably a substance dualist.There are two different types of substance: physical (bodies) and mental (minds). They are ontologically distinct from each other.

Descartes has two arguments for substance dualism – the conceivability argument and the divisibility argument.

• Read through the handout on the conceivability argument and highlight the relevant section from Descartes’ meditation VI

• How persuasive is Descartes’ argument?

How successful is Descartes argument?

1. What is conceivable may not be possible2. What is logically possible tells us nothing about

reality3. Mind without body is not conceivable

Each pair will look at one issue with Descartes’ argument. Re-write it in bullet points and be ready to explain it to the rest of the group. How much of an issue do you think it poses?

What is conceivable may not be possible

just because I can conceive of something does not mean it is possible. It could be impossible even if I can conceive it. (just because I can conceive of my father being the masked man, if he is not then it is impossible that he is the masked man). So it could be that Descartes conceives of the body and mind being separate but actually it is impossible that that is the case.(He replies that if we can clearly and distinctly think of something having a property then it must be possible – so if I clearly and distinctly conceive mind and body are separate then it follows it’s possible they are.)

What is logically possible tells us nothing about reality

Even if it is possible that the mind is a substance, it does not follow that it is. Simply knowing what is logically possible does not tell us what is true.If Descartes could show that it is impossible for mind and body to be the same substance that would show they are separate, but does he?

Mind without body is not conceivable

Can we actually conceive of mind and body as separate? Logical behaviourism says mental states should be analysed in terms of behaviour – without a body this can’t happen. So if logical behaviourism is right (and you will look at this later in the course) disembodied minds are inconceivable.

Descartes would again reply that we must get our ideas clear and distinct first.

HomeworkBriefly outline Descartes’ conceivability argument (5 marks) After planning this should take 10 minutes

5 A full, clear and precise explanation. The student make logical links between precisely identified points with no redundancy

4 A clear explanation, with logical links, but some imprecision/redundancy

3 The substantive content of the explanation is present and there is an attempt at logical linking. But the explanation is not full and/or precise

2 One or two relevant points made, but not precisely. The logical is unclear

1 Fragmented points, with no logical structure0 Nothing written worthy of credit