Posted: February 17th, 2022

Descartes Notion of the Mind/Body Problem in Relation to Free Will

Descartes’ Notion of the Mind/Body Problem in Relation to Free Will

René Descartes, a prominent philosopher of the 17th century, delved into the complex relationship between the mind and the body and its implications for free will. Descartes adopted a skeptical approach, questioning even the most fundamental beliefs. He famously declared, “Cogito, ergo sum” (“I think, therefore I am”), which forms the cornerstone of his understanding of dualism. In the realm of philosophy of mind, dualism posits that the mental and the physical (mind and body) are fundamentally different entities. This essay examines Descartes’ substance dualism and its implications for free will in seven steps, exploring how he grappled with the coexistence of a free mind within a physically determined world.

Descartes’ Substance Dualism

Descartes’ substance dualism is based on the belief that the universe consists of two distinct substances: res extensa (physical things) and res cogitans (thinking things). He asserted that the essence of the mind is thought, while the essence of the body is extension. This dichotomy led Descartes to assume the existence of free will, arguing that since we can doubt the existence of things perceived through experience, it is evident that we possess the freedom to disbelieve.

The Argument for Substance Dualism

If I can clearly and distinctly understand something, then God can create something that corresponds to my clear and distinct notion, or else God would be a deceiver.
If I can clearly and distinctly understand X and Y as complete things whose principal attributes exclude each other, then God can make X and Y exist independently.
If X and Y can exist independently (regardless of whether they currently do), then they are truly distinct.
I can clearly and distinctly understand the mind as a complete thing to which extension does not pertain.
I can clearly and distinctly understand the body as a complete thing to which thought does not pertain.
Therefore, God can bring it about that the mind and body exist separately.
Hence, the mind and body are truly distinct (SparkNotes Editors).
Descartes’ Argument for Free Will

Descartes’ primary focus is not just the mind-body problem but also the significance he attributes to free will. He claims that the essence of the mind is thought, and free will is its primary capacity. The practical function of the will is to combat passions and grant us control over our actions. The will, being infinite, has no limits and is dependent on the mind for its functioning. It is the faculty that enables us to affirm or deny propositions presented to us by the mind alone.

Mind-Body Problem and Free Will

The mind-body problem arises due to the dualistic nature of Descartes’ philosophy. On the one hand, the mind, being distinct from the body, can transcend physical laws and exercise free will. On the other hand, Descartes acknowledges that the mind can be influenced by the body in certain specific ways. For instance, Descartes invokes the concept of the soul to explain the interaction between mind and body, proposing that the soul moves and feels within the body directly. However, modern science has invalidated Descartes’ claim about the role of the pineal gland in facilitating this interaction.

Mind, Body, and Soul

Descartes’ emphasis on the existence of the soul adds another dimension to the mind-body problem. He believed in the immortality of the soul, a concept shared by other philosophers like Plato, who argued that the soul is from the world of ideas and is temporarily united with the body. Aristotle, in contrast, saw the soul as a property exhibited by the body and proposed that it perishes with the body.

Conclusion

Descartes’ mind-body problem from a Christian perspective affirms the existence of two distinct substances, res extensa and res cogitans. While the mind is the source of free will, it must be distinct from the body and the physical world. Understanding Descartes’ concept of will further clarifies his view on the interaction between the mind and the body, emphasizing the unity of the mind as the faculty of knowledge. The mind’s infinite will, coupled with its practical functions and interactions with the soul and body, makes for a complex and cogent exploration of free will within the Cartesian framework.

References:

Mihali, Andreea. “Descartes’ Idea of Will.” Wilfrid Laurier University (Canada), 2007.
Ferguson, Christopher J. “Free Will: An Automatic Response.” American Psychologist 55.7 (2000): 762-763.
SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Principles of Philosophy.” SparkNotes.com.
Marias, Julian. History of Philosophy. New York: Dover Publications Inc., 1967.
Angeles, Peter. The Harper Collins Dictionary of Philosophy. 2nd ed. United States: Harper Collins Publishers.

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