Descartes' argument for mind-body distinction is fallacious and inconclusive

Consciousness & Mind

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Reason against

1.Descartes argues that because he can doubt the existence of matter but cannot doubt his own existence as a thinking thing, mind and matter are distinct
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2.The ability to doubt the existence of something does not establish that it is distinct from something else one cannot doubt
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3.Descartes has not ruled out the possibility that he, as a thinking thing, is in fact a complex material system
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SEP: descartes

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The argument is fallacious. It relies on conceivability based in ignorance. Descartes has not included anything in the argument to ward off the possibility that he, as a thinking thing, is in fact a complex material system. He has merely relied on the fact that he can doubt the existence of matter to conclude that matter is distinct from mind. This argument is clearly inconclusive. From the fact that the Joker cannot, at a certain moment, doubt the existence of Batman (because he is with him), b

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Validity: Extracted via Max plan + API grounding/validity checks

Details

Type: claim
Perspectives: 1 (0 for, 1 against)
Edits: 1 edit