In this paper I will address Descartes’ dualist view, the differences between the soul and body. I will also explain the objection Princess Elisabeth presents to Descartes views.
Descartes believes the soul is the mind, which is responsible for thoughts and sense perception. The mind is an immaterial substance that does not take up space. The body is a physical entity that has motion, a shape, and extends into space. The body and the mind are distinct (Descartes, 1641, p. 2-3). Although these two entities are different, they interact. The mind-body interaction is explained by two types of causation. The first is upward causation, the body affects the mind. An example would be a football hitting your arm. The football that hit your arm
Descartes believes the soul is the mind, which is responsible for thoughts and sense perception. The mind is an immaterial substance that does not take up space. The body is a physical entity that has motion, a shape, and extends into space. The body and the mind are distinct (Descartes, 1641, p. 2-3). Although these two entities are different, they interact. The mind-body interaction is explained by two types of causation. The first is upward causation, the body affects the mind. An example would be a football hitting your arm. The football that hit your arm