Cartesian Dualism and the Union of Mind and Body Essay -- Dualism Essay

Cartesian Dualism and the coalescence of Mind and BodyABSTRACT Cartesian dualism and the union of musical theme and organic structure are often understood as conceptions that contradict each other. diachronic interpretations maintain that Descartes was first a dualist (in the Meditations) and later on developed his berth on the union of mind and body (Passions). Some authors come on present a problem without solution. Nevertheless, in the last two decades, some interpretations know been developed intending to give a positive solution to the difficult sexual congress surrounded by Cartesian dualism and the union of mind and body. The problem that I find in most of them is that they try to show no incoherence between Descartes dualism and his conception of the union and interaction by weakening or make more flexible the dualist doctrine. I develop a synchronic interpretation, found on textual evidence, in order to show that dualism and union appeared simultaneously in Desca rtes works. Under this perspective, my claim is that Cartesian radical dualism and the union of mind and body can be coherently understood only because they locomote to different domains of knowledge. Thought and matter are clear and distinct uninitiate whimseys that come from reason, whose role is laying the foundations for Cartesian metaphysics and physics, while the primitive notion of union is acquired by the senses and lacks clarity and distinction even while it serves the intention of founding Descartes moral philosophy. Rene Descartes is well known for his dualist conception. At the same time, Descartes recognise the intimate relation between the human mind and body. Several authors give understood this as a contradiction within Cartesian philosophy.Truly, when Descartes argues in fa... ...(10) A. Kenny 1968 Descartes A Study of the Philosophy (Nueva York Random House) p. 224.(11) D. Garber 1983 Understanding Interaction what Descartes should entertain told Elisabeth, Southern Journal of Philosophy, 21, p. 21.(12) Ibid., p. 27.(13) Ibid., p. 29.(14) Cf. Richardson, Op. Cit. Garber, Op. Cit. and 1992 (15) Descartes Metaphysical Physics (Chicago The University of Chicago Press) Cottingham, Op, Cit. Bentez, Op. Cit. and 1993b El Interaccionismo Cartesiano y el Problema de la Glndula Pineal, in L. Bentez, ed., Homenaje a Descartes (Mexico FFyL-UNAM) Madanes 1993 Abandonamos la Partida? Consideraciones sobre el Problema de la Relacin Mente-Cuerpo, in Bentez 1993a, Op. Cit.(16) I am working on this subject, in particular on the Cartesian semantics where I think we can find the arguments that buck to an answer to this problem.