Cartesian Dualism I

 
Ontological Scheme: An exhaustive and exclusive list of natural kinds of things.
 
A Primitive Ontological Scheme
 
1. Physical Objects
2. Properties
3. Times
4. Places
5. Events
6. Sets
7. Propositions
 
A Revised Ontological Scheme
 
1. Substance
        A. Purely mental
        B. Purely physical
        C. Mixed
2. Properties
3. Times
4. Places
5. Events
6. Sets
7. Propositions
 
Substance: a "thing"; a "real being"; something that has properties, but is not a property of anything else; something able to exist (relatively) independently.
 
D1: x is a purely physical substance =df. x is a physical substance, and every part of x (if any) is a physical substance.
 
D2: x is a purely mental substance =df. x is a mind, and every part of x (if any) is a mind.
 
D3: x is a mixed substance =df. x is a substance; some parts of x are physical substances; and at least one part of x is a mind.
 
D4: x has property F essentially =df. x has F, and it is impossible for x to exist without having F.
 

An Interpretation of Cartesian Dualism (CD)

A. Each person is a mixed substance composed of two substantial parts-a mind (purely mental substance) and a body (purely physical substance).

B. Each mind is essentially thoughtful and spatially unextended.

C. Each body is essentially spatio-temporally extended and thoughtless.

D. Mind and body are able to exist independently-and generally do so after death.

E. Mind and body enter into two-way causal interaction.

• Be able to provide examples of the two ways in which mind and body enter into causal interaction according to the Cartesian Dualist.

Be able to provide a Cartesian Dualist's answers to these questions:

• In virtue of what features is it that a brain is not a mind?
• Could a mind exist that did not have any thoughts?
• Does your mind have physical properties?
• Does your body have mental properties?
• Can your body have a thought?
• Can your brain have a thought?

Alleged Theoretical Advantages (or motivating factors behind) Forms of Dualism

1. Allows for a literal interpretation of mindful sentences.
2. Allows for the possibility of survival of (bodily) death.
3. Allows for the possibility of strong psychic phenomena.
4. Provides a basis for an account of the meanings of 'x is alive' and 'x is conscious'.

• Are any of these features actually theoretical advantages?
• What do you think a Typical Materialist would say about each of these features?