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Running head: THE MIND/BODY PROBLEM
The Mind/ Body Problem
Student’s Name
Institution
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THE MIND/BODY PROBLEM
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The Mind/ Body Problem
Cartesian Rationalism and Resulting Mind/ Body Problem
Descartes well known as the father of modern philosophy came up with the idea of
Cogito such that since a person thinks, hence, they must certainly exist. This affirmation of ‘I
think I therefore I am’ forms the base for his Cartesian system attesting that the sensory
perception of a human being is reliable. Despite the fact being substantive to science, there are
consequent challenges associated with his system and consequences that arise from his
proposition.
Rationalism is the notion that knowledge can only be obtained through reasoning.
Conversely, the mind/body problem was also known as dualism as it explains two types of
beings (substances). Cartesian rationalism tries to give insight and understanding concerning on
immaterial substance as described by Descartes. According to Mitchell, (2014), Descartes
believed on perfect knowledge gained through reasoning since reasons are present in the mind,
and they exist independently of the body. This view is because even after death the minds lives
but the body corporeal since is spatial and temporal. Hence, the body is destructible, and mind is
indestructible because mind extends in space and exists in time. From the Descartes view, there
exist a significance relationship between the body and the mind. Descartes adds that the
interaction between the mind and the body would therefore partake the characters for both
substances (body and mind). For instance, being beaten makes the mind feel pain whereas
willing to raise your hands up makes the hand be raised due to interactionism between the body
and mind. However, the problem arises of how the causal interaction is feasible.
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The Cartesian view concerning mind and body makes the ideal difficult to understand
despite Descartes asserting that their usually direct interaction which occurs in the pineal gland
in the brain. Descartes cosmological argument of proving the existence of God, he affirms that
God exists, and God is perfect; thus, God cannot deceive. Therefore, from what one perceives, it
is true and reliable that God does not deceive. This position of Descartes was epistemological as
based on his theory of knowledge; however, the quest becomes questionable on whether the
cogito describes the reality ((Mitchell, 2014)). The rationalists have come up with the various
views to fill the void of Descartes dualism problem such as parallelism that opposes the causal
interaction without divine interaction as well as occasionalism that ascertains of a link between
physical events and mind due to the divine intervention of God.
Versions of Empiricism
Empiricism is one of the philosophical viewpoints that entail the concept of mind and
body problem. Classical empiricism is one of the main empiricism versions that is well known
and was derived by John Locke. This version is founded on the belief that experience is
fundamental phenomena that harness people’s knowledge (Mitchell, 2014). This aspect entails
that all human being knowledge is as a result of experience and interaction with the world’s
nature. This aspect of the classical empiricism thus depicts that through the various experiences
that our bodies encounter forms the basis of knowledge acquisition by our minds.
Radical empiricism is another version which was articulated by David Hume. According
to Meyers, (2014) Hume emphasized on the significance of the sensation as the primary source
of human being knowledge. The key sensations that Hume entailed in his viewpoint included
gustatory, visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile. For example, when one cuts himself or herself
while peeling a fruit the pain that one feels after this act makes a person keener the next time he
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or she uses a knife. Consequently, if that person shares his pain experience with another person,
then this initiative will facilitate the awareness that one should be more careful while using a
knife.
Comparison and Contrast between Cartesian Rationalism and Empiricists
Based on the study it can be asserted that both Cartesian rationalism and empiricism
share some common ideas. For instance, both Cartesian rationalism and empiricism highly
emphasize on the need of knowledge among human beings. This aspect implies that all human
being require knowledge in all their daily routines. Besides, both Cartesian rationalism and
empiricism viewpoints depict the superiority of human being. This assertion rests on the fact that
both concepts entail on aspects of people rather than any other living thing in the universe. Thus,
this is evident that both philosophical ideologies tried to show the superiority of humankind
(Mitchell, 2014).
However, the two concepts contrast each other on the nature of knowledge acquisition.
For instance, the Cartesian rationalism held that knowledge existed before experience. This
notion implies that knowledge arises from reasoning. On the contrary, empiricism ruled that
human being knowledge is acquired through experience and sensation. For example, classical
empiricism held that knowledge was acquired through experience while knowledge is attained
through sensation by the radical empiricism. Meyers, (2014) asserts that Cartesian rationalism
and empiricism contrasts in that the former is built natural occurrence of things in the world
while the latter was based on the perfection of things through modernization.
Alternatives to Cartesian Rationalism and Empiricism
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Phenomenology is one of the philosophical concepts different to both Cartesian
rationalism and empiricism. This theory was developed by Edmund Husserl and entails the study
of things as they appear in the world from the first-person viewpoint. Additionally, this approach
was also centered on the analysis of consciousness and intentionality of the human mind.
According to Mitchell, (2014), these aspects of phenomenology are based on “bracketing” which
implies inquiry of occurrence of things as well as interpretation of things. Thus, through
bracketing individuals can see things from the first-person viewpoint. This measure would in
turn harness understanding and knowledge about the nature of human beings.
Baruch Spinoza as another great philosopher also challenged the views held by Cartesian
rationalism and empiricism theories of mind and body problem. To articulate his ideas Baruch
incorporated various concepts as opposed to Cartesian rationalism and empiricism. First, he held
the ideology of necessity of the existence of God. This assertion was based on the sentiment that
the infinite nature of God played a significant role in the harnessing attainment of knowledge by
human beings. Secondly, Baruch also entailed on the relationship between the mind and the body
where the mind controls all the body’s acts. This relationship, however, is facilitated by God,
who is the superior and above people. Lastly, imagination was another aspect that formed the
basis of his ideology (Douglas, 2015). To Baruch imagination entailed the capability of a human
being to perceive things as they are and their nature. This ability was one aspect that portrayed
the superiority of human mind to construct the reality of things mentally. This facet of the mind
thus proofed that the mind was the central and control of the human body.
From the study, it is evident that these alternative theories on mind and body problem
share common aspects with Cartesian rationalism and empiricism. For example, all these
philosophical accounts show that there exists a unique relationship between human’s mind and
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the body. This assertion rests on the fact that Baruch ideologies, phenomenology, Cartesian
rationalism and empiricism ascertain the interrelationship between the mind and the body
(Mitchell, 2014). Besides, these views also account that among the things in the world man is a
unique animal. This point of view can be ascertained on the fact that all the approaches entail
much about human being.
On the other hand, these alternative theories on mind and body problem differ with
Cartesian rationalism and empiricism. For instance, Baruch theory differs from both Cartesian
rationalism and empiricism on the account of the existence of God. Baruch approach held on the
existence of God, who is immortal. In contrary, both Cartesian rationalism and empiricism never
accounted on the existence of God. According to Douglas, (2015) these philosophical concepts
also differ on the nature of the relationship between the mind and body. For example, the
Cartesian rationalism accounted that the mind and body are autonomous while empiricism held
that the body through sensation controlled the human mind. On the contrary, Baruch approach
considered that the human mind was the central monitoring of the body.
Evaluation and Response to Mind/ Body Problem
The mind/body problem describes how the human body and mind interact. However, the
questions that arise include; is mind part of the body or body part of the mind? And if the brain
and the body are different how do they interact to enhance rationalism? My perspectives
regarding mind/body problem are that ideas can come from God, senses and innate. This view is
due to human beings are created in the image of God, hence are Godlike, though complex as a
human is composed of both material and immaterial aspects and limited in space and time. God
has a mind, but He does not require a body to act; thus, the body of a human is part of nature.
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Similarly, one has a mind which in some extent exceeds the plans of nature and still
affects what occurs to it. Thus, having being created in the image of God, humans have Godlike
qualities such as rationality, innate knowledge, and consciousness. Secondly, the mind of a
person is the one that stimulates physical event to occur. For instance, the passion for doing
something is driven from the mind and thinking of the passion, ultimately results to acting
(physical event). Similarly, pain due to physical injuries or laughing due to humorous comedy is
usually a body response to the mind impulses. Hence, perfect knowledge can come from innate
knowledge, God, and senses.
My views differ from the rationalism and empiricism views. First, the rationalism
believes in perfect knowledge that is gained through reasoning and causal interaction of human
mind and body. For instance, Descartes believes that the only ideas that were valid were those
that were innate. Secondly, the empiricism views that knowledge is obtained through senses and
prior sensory experience. Thus, the learning of an idea is based on perception and observation.
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Reference
Douglas, A. X. (2015). Spinoza and Dutch Cartesianism: Philosophy and Theology. Oxford
University Press, USA.
Meyers, R. G. (2014). Understanding empiricism. Routledge.
Mitchell, H. B. (2014). Roots of Wisdom: A Tapestry of Philosophical Traditions. Nelson
Education.