Meditation VI

The Separation of Mind and Body

1. What two features distinguish the imagination from the understanding? (2 marks) - Answer
2. What does Descartes conclude about the imagination? (2 marks) - Answer
3. What are the Latin terms for mental substance and physical substance, what do they mean, and what qualities does each substance possess? (6 marks) - Answer
4. What is the main problem for this theory of mind and body (dualism)? (1 mark) - Answer
5. Descartes states that the mind is not present in the body like “a pilot in a ship”, but is closer than that, as it were “intermixed with it” (sometimes called the intermingling thesis). In other writings, he also proposes the idea that mind and body interact by the pineal gland in the brain. Could either of these suggestions solve the problem of interaction? (2 marks) - Answer

We can conceive of things that we cannot imagine (such as 10,000-sided shapes). (1 mark) The imagination provides us with images, which are less clear and distinct that pure conceptions. (1 mark) Firstly, that it involves some thought or awareness, but that it is an action of the mind as it is ‘turned outwards’ toward the body. (1 mark) However, since mental images and sense impressions form without his consent (against his will), then he concludes that the faculty of imagination (or general image formation) is not an essential part of him. (1 mark) Physical substance is known as ‘res extensa’ (1 mark), which means an ‘extended thing’ (1 mark). Thus, matter is extended in space, possessing size, shape, and other measurable properties, but is completely unconscious (non-thinking). (1 mark) Mental substance is known as ‘res cogitans’ (1 mark), which means a ‘thinking thing’ (1 mark). Mind therefore possesses the ability to reason, calculate, feel, and generally be conscious, but possesses no dimensions or mass. (1 mark) The main issue is how two such different substances interact (generally known as the problem of interaction): if mind is immaterial, it cannot move physical things (whether neurons in the brain, or nerve fibres in the body); however, this also works the other way, for how can matter influence a non-physical entity? Not really. Firstly, what would it mean for the mind to be “intermixed” with the body? For, to be mixed, either the body must have some mental aspects, or the mind must have some physical aspects – both of which Descartes denies. (1 mark) As regards the pineal gland, this is not so much a solution as a restatement of the problem: for, how does the mind affect the physical gland, or how does the gland affect the immaterial mind? (1 mark) Sources of the Real World

1. What two possible sources of the ideas for physical objects does Descartes reject, and what reasons does he give for rejecting them? (4 marks) - Answer
2. What ultimate reason does Descartes give for trusting that the physical world exists? (1 mark) - Answer

Firstly, he considers whether he himself is responsible for producing these ideas (1 mark), but rejects this because he is not aware of any power in himself for doing this. (1 mark) If you remember, he considered this possibility back in the third meditation, but having now proven that God is not a deceiver, he can be sure that he possesses no hidden power of self-deception. Secondly, he considers the idea that God has produced these ideas in him (1 mark), but rejects this also because this would mean that God was deceiving him – a possibility that he has already rejected. (1 mark) Simply that, given all his conclusions so far, it is the most likely explanation. Natural Teachings

1. Descartes distinguishes between “natural teachings” (instincts) and assumptions and prejudices. In what way does he do this? Give examples. (4 marks) - Answer
2. What possible objection does Descartes consider that might suggest that natural teachings are not always beneficial to us? What two reasons lead him to reject this? (3 marks) - Answer

Natural teachings are ways in which human beings instinctively react to things. (1 mark) So, we feel fire as hot (and painful), seek food when we are hungry, and so on. (1 mark) However, natural assumptions are those ideas that we commonly arrive at without due thought or judgement. (1 mark) So, I may assume that all apparently empty space is in fact a true vacuum, or any other natural ‘illusion’. (1 mark) Descartes considers the case of ‘Dropsy’ (hydropsis), whereby the natural desire to drink water would be harmful to us. (1 mark) However, he rejects that this shows that such natural teachings are faulty, because (a) just because these teachings are limited, does not mean that they are not useful 99% of the time (1 mark), and (b) we can use our reason to help us on those few occasions when natural teachings might cause us harm. (1 mark)

How Did You Do?

0-9: False Assumptions. Keep trying.

10-19: Intermingling. Half-way there.

20-25: Naturally Taught. I’m really fed up of your cheating, now – unless of course you’re not – in which case – well done!

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