Descartes' Body-Mind Dualism

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses Rene Descartes' belief about the dualism of mind and body in which Descartes states that the mind and body can exist and function independently from each other.. The writer of the paper first looks at Descartes' four categories of explanations for his body-mind dualism arguments and then explains why he believes that, regardless of the multitude of forces brought in favor of the body - mind dualism, one cannot correctly state that body and mind can function on their own.

Outline:
Abstract
Dualism of Mind and Body
Support of Mind - Body Dualism
Personal Belief
Conclusions

From the Paper:

"Rene Descartes is regarded as one of the greatest minds humanity has ever mastered. Born in France, he became specialized in several subjects, such as theology, philosophy, literature, mathematics, law or medicine. A firm sustainer of the sciences, Descartes believed that everything surrounding him could be explained as a combination of mathematics and another subject. "Descartes, who was convinced that science and mathematics could be used to explain everything in nature, was the first to describe the physical universe in terms of matter and motion, seeing the universe a as giant mathematically designed engine." "

Sample of Sources Used:

• December 9, 2002, Rene Descartes (1956 - 1650), ReneDescaters.com, http://www.renedescartes.com/, last accessed on October 8, 2007
• Rene Descartes (1595 - 1650), OregonState.com, http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/philosophers/descartes.html, last accessed on October 8, 2007
• Robin Chew, March 1996, Rene Descartes, Philosopher, Lucid Cafe, http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/96mar/descartes.html, last accessed on October 8, 2007
• Daniel Garber, August 29, 2003, Descartes, Rene (1596 - 1650), Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, http://www.rep.routledge.com/article/DA026SECT8, last accessed on October 8, 2007
• James Fieser and Bradley Dowden, 1998, The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, http://www.iep.utm.edu/, last accessed on October 8, 2007

More papers on Descartes' Body-Mind Dualism:

• Term Paper # 141231 : "Descartes Argues Cartesian Dualism"
• Argumentative Essay # 128950 : "The Mind-Body Debate: Dualism vs Monism"
• Essay # 54167 : "Cartesian Dualism"

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