Dualism Cartesian

How have Dualists tried to explain the apparent two-way causal interaction between mind and body? Which version of dualism Ð'- Cartesian Dualism, Parallelism or Epiphenomenalism Ð'- is the most plausible theory of mind?

The distinction between our body, our minds and how they interact has long been a question discussed between philosophers of the mind. In this essay I shall begin by setting out the differences in beliefs about the location and form that the mind takes, focusing on the ways in which dualists define the mind and the body. Then I will explain the ways in which substance dualists, those who argue that there is a dualism of substances of the mind and body, have attempted to explain the apparent interaction between the mind and body, whilst setting up objects to the theories. I will conclude that Cartesian dualism is the most plausible theory of mind, as it is the most conceivable and argues the mind-body interaction that seems to exist, actually does.

I will define a mind by defining those things that have minds as contain a mind are capable of self-directed motion and which have mental states - cognitive, conative and affective states- such as beliefs and desires and sensations. Therefore something that has these qualities has a mind in which mental states are contained. Dualists argue that the mind is not physical and does not have physical mental states, such as brain states, but rather that it is a non-physical entity, entirely separate from the body, and sharing no properties of physical matter such as mass or location. They also maintain "there is something about consciousness that eludes the explanatory apparatus of physical science " and therefore needs further explanation.

There are many different reasons dualists believe the mind and body are two distinct things. The dualist Rene Descartes offers many reasons for claiming the body and mind are separate. His first and foremost claim is that physical objects "can be moved in various ways, not by itself but by whatever else comes in contact with it". Modern dualists can further this argument using the laws of matter, which state that matter is inert, incapable of self-directed motion. Thus, they claim the mind cannot be physical, as it is capable of self-directed motion and must be non-physical, outside the laws of physical realm. Descartes also argued that mental states are not spatial objects like physical substances, in that they don't have spatial parts or spatial locations, and so he concluded, mental states couldn't be physical things. Now that I have set out the claims made by dualists for believing that the mind and body are separate entities, I will explain how dualists have tried to explain the apparent two-way causal interaction between the mind and body, as well as setting up objections to reach a conclusion of which theory is the most plausible.

One of the main forms of dualism is that of Cartesian dualism, which argues there is a causal interaction between the mind and body, and that it is a two way interaction, where the physical body can affect the non-physical mind, which in turn can affect the body. Descartes, who refers to I as his mind which he cannot doubt exists, argues "I am not merely present in my body as a sailor is present in a ship," because when the ship is damaged, I do not feel pain, but if it were I were hit, then I would feel pain, and thus the mind and body must interact. There are many objections to this view, both concerning its dualist nature and how it describes the apparent causal interaction.

One of the objections to Cartesian dualism concerns the interaction between the mind and body. As Robinson Howard states, "mental properties [of the non-physical mind], and substances are of radically different kinds from each other, they lack that communality necessary for interaction". Moreover the laws of physics state that a material object will only move if a physical force has been applied to it. Therefore Cartesian dualists would have to disregard the laws of physics and rather argue that just because something seems strange and impossible, does not mean it is not real . This response is insubstantial and weak as it provides no alternate laws to govern the mind nor is it backed up with evidence.

Another objection addresses more conflicts between physics and Cartesian dualism, regarding the Conservation of Energy. According to physics, the physical world is a closed system, in which no energy is destroyed or created but rather transferred in causation processes. Cartesian dualism conflicts with this law, as according to these dualists, causation is a result of a non-physical thing creating new energy which influences physical matter, and thus conservation laws are incorrect and the physical world is not a closed system. The Cartesian dualist "deniesÐ'...that the human body is an isolated system ". They believe their view will be proven when, we can measure changes in energy levels of humans and energy changes from the transfer of energy between our physical brains and our non-physical minds will be able to be observed.

The objection regarding overdetermination, also presents a large problem for Cartesian dualists. If the physical world is causally complete then the non-physical world must be overdetermining the physical processes, and thus if a non-physical mind existed it would serve no purpose, and be unnecessary. The nature of the non-physical mind is put even further in doubt if it always overdetermines physical causation, as there would be no conceivable way to know if the non-physical mind actually had causation powers. There are two responses to this objection, firstly there are those that argue scientists are incorrect, and that there are gaps in the physical casual process, that are filled in with the causal powers of the non-physical mind. Secondly, some argue that although we cannot scientifically test the causal powers of both the brain and the mind, they both exist. These claims are extremely bold and are backed up by no conclusive evidence, other than that which initially created the view in the first place, such as Descartes meditations and introspection.

Aside from the numerous objections, Cartesian dualism presents a number of attractive features. Firstly it explains and accepts that causal interaction, which seems to be apparent in our everyday lives, exists between the mind and the body. It also presents a reasonable argument concerning the nature of the mind, and where and in what it is located. The physical body seems to possess qualities that we do not attribute to mental states such as spatial location and mass, and hence it is conceivable that the mind and body are two distinct things. To someone who believes in divine intervention,