Mind-Body Dualism, Essay Example

The two are different features (Descartes). The body cannot take part in decision making unlike the mind, which is able to do so; hence they are two distinct feature that works separately. Therefore, the mind cannot control body activists, making them two distinct faculties (Forstman, 1239). Therefore, Descartes’s mind and body dualism is the most significant philosophy in human history. In this article, we shall examine deeply how the philosophy of mind-body dualism works to define the human body’s real sense and completeness. For example, we shall apply various forms of arguments from the distinction perspective.

The argument of real distinction suits the reasoning that “the body and the mind” are different (Rozemond, 7). They must be supported by another to support their existence. Hence the two normally have different supporting devices making them different. The ultimate support only can be attributed to God. In addition, the two lack the ability to support each other. For example, many objects like rocks exist but they are devoid of the mind having only the body. However, the stone still exists but cannot perform various functions since the mind is absent. Hence therefore based on the issue of distinction, everything on the earth can exist without support from anything except God.

The issue of real distinction can clearly be seen in the religious perspective in that they believe that in soul is immortal and the body is perishable. Therefore, from this sense of religion, if the two had not been independent, both would have been either immortal or mortal (IEP). Therefore, real distinction approves that “the body and the mind” are two distinct features; hence they can exist without the support of each other. Furthermore, the religious perspective also believes in the “existence of the afterlife.” The body’s death has always characterized the afterlife, but the soul’s or the mind’s eternity (Blum, 215). Hence it automatically qualifies that the two can be separate and exist independently.

One is real and the other is not really making them different. In addition, the mind is an extension while the body is not. Hence the body can be perceived as not able to take part in thinking while the mind can take part in the thinking process. Therefore, the two things are able to exist differently. This can be approved again from the physical perspective that all things have a mission to fulfill in life; hence they always move toward the end of their fulfillment. For example, the tone will always fall towards the earth’s center since it follows the rule of gravity. However, the stone does not have the mind to continue further the pursuit of the overall goal of its end mission. However, human beings possess the mind, and the mind will always lead in the pursuit of the end goal in life; hence the two can exist differently (Rozemond, 12).

Furthermore, only the real can affect the real, and the unreal has no power to affect the most real things. Therefore, the mind cannot affect the real thing, the brain, which is part of the body, since the mind is perceived as unreal and exists independently. However, all things can only be supported by the ultimate powerful thing that may not need the existence of other things to exist in nature. Therefore, it automatically qualifies God to be the only independent substance that can support other substances. Therefore, God is able to control the actions of the body and the mind. Hence the body can exist even without the mind. The mind can also exist without the body since all their existence is connected to the power of God (Blum, 211).

Hence “body and mind” must exist differently. One can be divided, and the other cannot allow the two components of the body to be the same (IEP). Therefore, the mind must be able to exist alone without being dependent on the body. Also, the body can exist alone without the support of the mind. However, the mind has no solid parts that can be visible hence has always been assumed to be a unit. Therefore, there is no chance that they can be the same since the components and structures are different. Then, how could something be indivisible and divisible at the same time? It generally shows that the mind is one and receives the power from God to exist, and the body is also alone and receives the power from God to exist. In addition, the body and the mind work separately without the support of each other since the mind is infinite and the body is finite; hence there is no possibility of the infinite, which is unreal, supporting a very real thing like the body.

In conclusion, “Descartes’ body-mind dualism” stands out as the most effective philosophy of all time since it has approval from several perspectives; for example, the religious view of the two, the body will not be useful in the life that will be given to the champions. However, the mind will remain solid and intact for eternity. A single unit can only have similar characteristics but the body has its characteristics and the mind has its characteristics also.

Works Cited

 Blum, Paul Richard. “The immortality of the soul.” The Cambridge companion to renaissance philosophy (2007): 211-233.

Forstmann, Matthias, Pascal Burgmer, and Thomas Mussweiler. ““The Mind Is Willing, but the Flesh Is Weak” The Effects of Mind-Body Dualism on Health Behavior.” Psychological Science 23.10 (2012): 1239-1245.

Rozemond, Marleen, and Marleen Rozemond. “Descartes’s dualism”. Harvard University Press, 2009.

Descartes, Rene: Mind-Body Distinction