The Mind Body Problem And The Existence Of God - 2045 Words

As humans, we refer to each other by names associated to bodies and faces. Some have argued that our body is just an extension of â€Å"us†, and we are something else besides the body. This â€Å"something† is able to control our bodies, including our brains, and is separate from our bodies. Others have claimed that we are just our bodies, and that the brain controls our actions. This is known as the mind-body problem. In this paper I will be explaining the mind body problem as curated by Rene Descartes. I will do so by first examining Descartes project of Radical skepticism; what he hopes to achieve by explaining it. Then I will briefly outline some of Descartes arguments. Then I will look at Descartes argument for the existence of God. Finally I will show Descartes explanation for the existence of God. Finally, I will show Descartes proof for the existence of the outside of the world. This will frame the condition of the mind-body problem as we know it today. I. To address the issue of the mind body problem, Descartes starts by presenting the argument for universal doubt of all knowledge through the dream argument and the deceiving God argument. He first presents argument for doubting knowledge achieved from senses in the dream argument. He noted there is no definite way to distinguish dream experiences from waking experiences, because perception in dreams resemble perceptions of everyday experiences. Thus, what we assume to be real life may just be a dream. He then presented theShow MoreRelatedDescartes and the Existence of God751 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Descartes: The existence of God Over the course of his treatise Discourse on the Method, the philosopher Rene Descartes attempts to refute radical skepticism, or the idea that we can know nothing with the mind, because what we consider reality may simply be a delusion or a dream. Descartes begins, however, by taking a posture of doubting everything, and then attempting to discern what could be known for certain. Rather than attempting to affirm his existence, I thought that a procedure exactlyRead MoreThe Theory Of The Mind Body Dualism1232 Words   |  5 Pagesthe modern mind-body dualism or emotion† (Encyclopedia Britannica). Born on March 31, 1596, he was dubbed as the Father of Modern Philosophy. His theory on the mind-body dualism, also known as Cartesian Dualism, created a stem of the modern problem of the relationship between the mind and body. He created the early version to further explain the interaction of the mind and body, to create a firm foundation that can be explained through science and to prove the existence and goodness of God, and howRead MoreDescartes Views on the Topic of Philosophy of Mind Essay755 Words   |  4 Pagesof Mind Descartes has indeeed made some notable contributions towards the philosophy of mind. 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However, this very claim is also his biggest problem as his mind Ââ€" body interaction has many critics and to some, can seem invalidRead MoreRationalism - Descartes, Spinoza and Leibniz1731 Words   |  7 Pagesworld. The three major rationalists, Rene Descartes, Baruch Spinoza and Gottfried Welhelm Leibniz, used this idea in order to defy skepticism and expose the true nature of reality. However, each philosopher is frequently in disagreement. The idea for ‘God’, and what constitutes substance, matter and reality are the four key structural beliefs that aid each rationalist in the forming of their arguments. Yet, it is these four concepts and the arguments behind them that cause the inconsistency found inRead MoreTh e Doctrine Of Pre Established Harmony1497 Words   |  6 Pagescentered and focused around certain particular causation problems. Among those problems was the problem between the mind and the body. 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These are the arguments thatRead MoreIn Philosophy, There Are Going To Be Some Agreements And1393 Words   |  6 Pagesphilosophy, there are going to be some agreements and disagreemen ts among philosopher’s, but the most compelling of them all is Descartes’ and Spinoza’s take in regards to mind and body, and God and free will, God existence. I will compare and contrast Descartes’ and Spinoza’s perspectives on the relationship between mind and body, and God and free will. Maria, there is no fast way to explain all of this as this takes time, so please brace yourself as I hope to provide you with a better understanding ofRead More Descartes - Meditations Essay1649 Words   |  7 Pagesdoubt. His uncertainty of things that existence ranges from God to himself. Then he goes on to start proving that things do exist by first proving that he exists. After he establishes himself he can go on to establish everything else in the world. Next he goes to prove that the mind is separate then the body. In order to do this he must first prove he has a mind, and then prove that bodily things exist. I do agree with Descartes that the mind is sep arate from the body. These are the arguments that I agreeRead MoreThe Mind / Brain Identity Theory1718 Words   |  7 PagesA person relates to the world through different mental and corporeal experiences. The former is associated with one having a (non-physical) mind, which contains beliefs, desires, feelings and so on, while the latter involves having a (physical) brain. The Mind/Body problem questions whether the mind and brain are the same or different objects. For a long time, the interpretation of these experiences has been much debated by philosophers and scientists. One influential interpretation is Descartes’s