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A Critique Of Descartes Argument

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Recommended: Descartes’ methodological doubt

Descartes’ metaphysics are difficult in that they are over lapped. To, satisfactorily, answer the question: Does Descartes correctly respond to the problem of how can mind and matter interact as different substances? We must capture a large breadth of Descartes arguments beginning with his famous “I think, therefore I am”. For the simplicity of the paper, I shall assume that Descartes argument(s) have been sound all the way into his description of mind and matter. It would seem impossible to respond to the question posed if it cannot even be said that Descartes satisfactorily distinguishes mind and matter as different substances.
For the sake of this paper, I will begin with the doubts Descartes’ Meditations arise leading to Descartes’ explanation, or lack thereof, of how mind and matter interact as different substances. I will then continue with a critique of Descartes’ statement(s) as …show more content…

Descartes’ Meditations begin by the Meditator neglecting the existence of all material things and questioning his own existence. These metaphysical questions are aimed to establish a basis from which the Meditator, Descartes, may then build a basis for a clear conception of not only his own existence but also the existence of matter or material things. This then follows into Descartes description to the interaction of mind and matter.
Descartes’ distinction of mind and matter begins in the Meditation II. Descartes’ “cogito” is the first distinction of mind from matter. While Descartes can doubt that all spatial (material) things exist, either through the deception of an evil demon or an ever-lasting dream, he cannot doubt that he exists for the very same act of him thinking proves his existence. Two major things are then derived from this point that are crucial to Descartes distinction between matter and mind and its

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