Philosophy Descartes Views on the Differentiation...

Descartes views on the differentiation between the mind and the body has given rise to much thought regarding the interaction between these supposedly distinct substances. Through examining correlations between Princess Elizabeth of Bohemia it is evident that Descartes himself struggled to plausibly identify the interaction among the mental and material in relation to causation. This essay will investigate Elizabeth’s quires into the causational relationship between the mind and body by explaining and investigating Descartes distinction between the mental and physical as separate substances, Elizabeth’s concern in relation to the problem of interaction, and Descartes response to these concerns. The idea that there are two fundamental†¦show more content†¦She was understandably confused as to how there could be a causal relationship between two substances that, by definition, have completely different natures and can lead to the willing of an action or the having of an experience. According to Principles of Philosophy part II, section 15, in order for a substance to cause motion there must be contact between surfaces, however surface is a material mode. This begs the question as to how our minds can cause action (given the non-extended nature of thought) or our body’s sense cause sensations in the mind when they are distinct substances with nothing in common? Following Elizabeth’s thought, where humans do have voluntary movement and sensation, which would require surface contact therefore the mind, must also be extended as to have capacity for motion. As such, for causal interaction to occur the mind and body would need inclusive natures, which adequa tely weakens Descartes â€Å"clear and distinct† claim of perceiving the mind separate from the body. Descartes himself struggled to find a feasible answer to these questions. In a letter to Elizabeth, he suggested that a small gland in the centre of the brain, which he referred to as the pineal gland, caused â€Å"animal spirits† to interact with the body (Descartes, 1641). This more specific notion of the pineal gland creating causal interaction is often more commonly associated withShow MoreRelatedSpinoza’s Criticism of Descartes’ Substance Dualism2166 Words   |  9 Pagesbe conceived.† Spinoza’s criticism of Descartes’ substance dualism By: Jawad Samimi 01/04/2012 Substance dualism is often called ‘Cartesian dualism ‎and is the assumption that mind and body are really distinct substances. Rene Descartes (1596 – 1650) was the first early modern philosopher to hold that a thinking-thing is entirely different form an extended thing and mind can exist without the body. 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