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Descartes Myth Of Mind Body Dualism

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Descartes Myth Of Mind Body Dualism
What is mind-body dualism? Mind-body dualism simply distinguishes the mind and the body as two completely type of “substances.” According to Descartes the essential property of a material substance is extension; being able to take up space and time. One cannot observe what happens within the mind but can witness what happens to the body. Everyone is familiar with the function of the mind, which is the process of thinking and being able to tap into the body conscious. On the other hand, the body is the physical aspect that takes up space in the physical world. With that being said, the real question is if the mind and body are two different things or two things that act as one?
There are two kinds of substances that corresponds with the aspects …show more content…
The mind is a working tool that even when we do not try to use it to we still do. The mind is an independently existing substance that takes up time and not space, which make it an immaterial substance. The work of the mind cannot be shown but can be dealt with in the mentally of an individual. In the assigned reading Gilbert Ryle mentions Descartes myth of mind-body dualism as an act of two different functions, however both the mind and body can assist each other. With the mind being in control of the conscious it could cause the body to act in a way that the mind believe is right. Although the mind and body compliments each other function, they are still two different tools with different …show more content…
I agree with Ryle’s logic behind the mind and body are two different things that can act as one. Descartes’ dualism is problematic because it becomes contracting when defining the functions of both the mind and the body. Descartes suggests that I can imagine that I exist even though all the physical things which seem to exist, including quarks and electrons, does not exist. Just because it is not seen does not mean it does not exist or that the function of the object is
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