Modal Argument For Substance Dualism

I argue that substance dualism is true. Substance dualism claims that people and bodies are distinct. People, such as you and I, are nonphysical beings. We are connected human bodies, but we are not bodies. The reason is that (1) If we can exist without bodies, then we cannot be bodies. (2) We can exist without bodies. Therefore (3) we cannot be bodies. (1), (2) and (3) constitute the modal argument for substance dualism. The modal argument has a valid form. An argument has valid form means that if all of the premises are true, the conclusion must be true. I’m going to prove that both premise (1) and premise (2) are true. Therefore the conclusion of the modal argument, i. e. we are not bodies, must be true.
Premise (1) is true because of the …show more content…
I will describe a scenario in which we exist without bodies. Suppose that I was sitting in the library and doing my assignment. I so was focus on it that I didn’t find out my legs disappear before I finished a paragraph. Now when I looked downwards I can see the chair directly. I was surprised at this transformation and wanted to move, but just then my arms and my main body disappeared too. This is not painful but only a little scary. My friend sitting in front of me seemed terrified because now I look like a head floating in the air. I wanted to say something to comfort her. Unfortunately, I found that when I wanted to speak I can’t hear myself. Then I can see nothing but completely darkness, as if someone suddenly turn off the light at night. I was amazed by my situation and keep wondering that “what on earth is going on?” Apparently, although my body disappeared right in front of my friend’s eyes, I can’t say that I disappear as well. I still exist in nowhere, wondering and urgently wanted to come back and finish my assignment. This is an example in which I can clearly and distinctly conceive I exist without my body. Therefore, we can conceive that we exist without our body.
In conclusion, I have proved that both (1) and (2) are true. If we can exist without bodies, then we are not identical to our bodies. We can exist without our bodies, because if a thing is conceivable, then it is possible. We can conceive a scenario in which we exist without bodies, so it is possible for us to exist without bodies. If that is the case, then we are not identical to our bodies. Thus, people, such as you and I, are not bodies. Therefore, substance dualism is true. People and bodies are