Rene Descartes Mind Body Dualism Essay

Our minds and body correlate to each other and are the reason we can move and willingly do what we want. However, are our minds and body distinct? Can we even exist without a mind or without a body? Rene Descartes’ theory of “Mind-Body Dualism” discusses such philosophical questions and claims that although our mind and bodies are synced, they are not similar by way of division. Many questions remain on how “Mind-Body Dualism” works, many of which will be discussed in this paper, beginning with Descartes’ theory and the logic behind his reasoning. I will then discuss why Descartes believes that the mind is indivisible and why he believes that the body is always divisible. Afterwards, I will present my opinion regarding Descartes’ theory and many of the loopholes that were left unsolved. Although Descartes presents a very convincing theory, many questions were left unanswered. Descartes believes that if two entities have different properties, they are made from different substances and are thus, distinct. Bodies are extended, thus they can be physically divided – such as human arm or leg. Our minds, however, are not extended, thus, they can’t be divided in the same physical manner. Descartes uses Leibniz’s Law to conclude that since bodies are divisible and minds are not, that the mind and body are distinct. Bodies are divisible – we can remove a leg and we’d still have a body. Bodies are physical and are ultimately …show more content…
Nonetheless, Descartes’ theory effectively shows a worthwhile perspective that although our minds and bodies are distinct and are not made of the same substances, they are able to interact with each other. If our body is divisible, then there is a corresponding mental divisible part as