6.2 René Descartes and Dualism

As we saw earlier, René Descartes (1596–1650) is considered the “father of modern Philosophy”. He was also one of the most influential figures in Philosophy of MindA branch of Philosophy that seeks to understand the nature of the mind and the nature of consciousness.. Indeed, his theory of dualismThe view that the mind and body are two fundamentally different substances. laid the groundwork for centuries of debate about the relationship between the mind and the body.

The Theory of Dualism

In the realm of the Philosophy of Mind, the theory of dualism is influential as it introduced a fundamental distinction between two kinds of substances: the mental and the physical.

Dualism argues that the mind and body are two fundamentally different substances:

1. The mind: This is non-physical, thinking, and conscious. It is not bound by the physical constraints of space and time. It is the seat of thought, self-awareness, and subjective experience.
2. The body: This is physical, present in space, and governed by mechanical laws. It occupies space and is subject to the laws of physics and causalityThe idea that one event causes another.. It operates according to mechanical principles that can be observed and measured.

This distinction forms the basis of many debates in Philosophy. Dualism questions how these two distinct realms can interact and influence each other, when one is immaterial and subjective, and the other is material and objective.

Figure 20. An illustration of dualism’s two substances: mind and body, and their interaction.

As we saw earlier, Descartes famously stated “I think, therefore I am” (Cogito, ergo sum). This demonstrated to him that the mind’s existence is certain because thinking cannot be doubted. However, he argued that the body can be doubted because it is part of the physical world and our senses can deceive us.

Although Descartes believed that the mind and body are separate and distinct, he argued that they interact at a specific point in the brain called the “pineal gland”, the point where mental events, such as decisions or thoughts, are transferred into physical events. The pineal gland is a small, pine cone-shaped gland that produces a hormone called melatonin.