All Questions
Tagged with descartes philosophy-of-mind
30
questions
4
votes
2
answers
114
views
Descartes Statement in Second Meditation is illogical?
In the second paragraph of Meditation Two: Concerning the Nature of the Human Mind: That it is better known than the Body, Descartes writes
“Therefore I suppose that everything I see is false. I ...
2
votes
2
answers
58
views
"i think therefore i am", revist, does criticisms really hold?
In Wikipedia the critiques don't make much sense to me
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cogito,_ergo_sum#Critique
For example, it is said that "Saul Fisher 'points out that recognition that one has ...
2
votes
1
answer
139
views
The private language argument and Descartes's private thoughts
In his "Thinking it Through" textbook, Appiah writes
It is a big step from saying that some of our mental states are things that other people can know about, to saying, with the ...
-1
votes
1
answer
46
views
What is meant by artistic qualities and Can anyone point out some of these qualities?
What is meant by artistic qualities? Can anyone point out some of these qualities?
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
Quotations from Descartes on Animals as Automata
Animals do not feel pain and are automata. This view is commonly attributed to Descartes. And I would agree that in his philosophy no other conclusion makes sense.
But still, I want to distinguish ...
2
votes
2
answers
381
views
Can Cogito, ergo sum be formalized?
I was wondering lately whether Descartes argument for the existence of undoubtable truth could be formalized. I tried to formalize his argument in FOL, but only his light version proving that there ...
2
votes
1
answer
158
views
Is thinking an activity of a subject?
I am interested in the question of whether thinking must be an activity of a subject. Is it true that thinking has no reality without being a mode of the subject? Could it be possible that there is ...
3
votes
4
answers
286
views
Was the notion of mind-body dualism invented, or at least popularized, by Rene Descartes?
This dualism seems so compelling (from a layman’s perspective) that it seems difficult to imagine that Descartes invented or even popularized it. For instance, people kept using words like “soul” to ...
1
vote
0
answers
74
views
Where does Descartes actually make his argument from doubt for mind-body distinction?
In Meditations II, we see Descartes make the assertion that he must exist whenever he thinks "I think, I am", and the existence of the thinking thing is undoubtable. But as he can still doubt the ...
3
votes
2
answers
252
views
Descartes and embodiment
What does "Is this enough to enable the kinds of thought that really having a body involves?" What does this mean? What does "enable" mean exactly? what does "having a body involves" mean exactly?
...
3
votes
2
answers
246
views
My first thought is always: I AM
This question is derivative of the question here: Could 'cogito ergo sum' possibly be false?
It is noted by authors such as Nietzsche and Kierkegaard that there are several assumptions ...
2
votes
1
answer
987
views
Why does the dream argument posit that the senses are untrustworthy when it's the mind that is being tricked?
According to the wiki of the dream argument, "the act of dreaming provides preliminary evidence that the senses we trust to distinguish reality from illusion should not be fully trusted, and therefore,...
3
votes
2
answers
548
views
Cartesian dualist and dualist
I was taught that Cartesian dualists were those who believe strongly that the mind and the body are entirely two separate entities while a dualist believes the same but also believes that the mind and ...
4
votes
4
answers
317
views
Is there a flaw in my construction of Descartes' argument?
I'm having a difficult time thinking of any flaw in Descartes argument.
You can coherently imagine yourself without your physical body.
If you can coherently imagine X, then you have reason to ...
1
vote
0
answers
1k
views
How can Brie Gertler's disembodiment argument account for the minds of others?
I'm currently reading Brie Gertler's essay In Defense of Mind-Body Dualism. She uses Descartes' conceivability argument to make her own disembodiment argument. For example, she says someone can ...