Topic > A look at the concept of dualism between body and soul as represented in René Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy

Body and SoulRene Descartes presents in his Meditations on First Philosophy the idea of ​​dualism, the belief that the body and the soul exist separately from each other. Human physical bodies are composed of cells, tissues, blood, organs, skin, brain, and the like. From the brain, humans thought. The mental ability to think is what creates the human personality and allows humans to reason and form ideas. The question of whether or not the body and soul are separate is a vital philosophical question, especially for Descartes as he grapples with meditation and the sense that nothing is real or certain. This leads him to question his existence and who he is. In this article I will argue against Descartes' belief on dualism since the body requires the soul to live. The soul and body are linked together to guarantee man the ability to exist, create goals to pursue and grow as individuals. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The main argument is that the body and soul are individual forms. Descartes presents three main premises. The first premise of this argument begins with Descartes' statement "if I convinced myself of something then I certainly existed... I am, I exist" (Descartes 110). This is about the soul and that if a human being is capable of thinking, he exists. Even if a person is not sure of his actual existence, it does not matter as long as he believes that he is alive and existing. This leads to the second premise which discusses whether humans are deceived by God about their existence. Descartes argues that even if God, or some creator, deceives us, if we think we exist, we do. However, if God is the perfect creator of the universe, it would make sense that he gave his creation a soul and a healthy existence. The third premise describes the body and soul separately, showing how the two are different. Descartes defines the body simply as our physical self, which has hands, feet, and a solid figure. He writes how the soul has characteristics such as sensory perception and the ability to fabricate thoughts. The body and soul are presented as unique from each other, thus confirming the concept of dualism. These premises come together to form the conclusion that confirms duality and that the body and soul are separate from each other. I agree with Descartes' first premise on the basis that if we think we exist, we do. It is impossible to definitively find out whether everything is just a façade or whether humans actually exist in a real universe. But because humans are alive and can think, they are assumed to exist, at least to some extent. I also agree with his third premise that the body and soul are different. The soul is not something visible but rather an abstract concept used to describe what governs the body and allows humans to speak, think, and act. However, I disagree with his general notion of duality. Descartes presents his argument without sufficient evidence but rather relies on his own opinion. Generally, a body without a soul cannot be called an existing being. The body may be alive but without a soul there is no person, identity or personality. Likewise, without a physical body the soul cannot exist. If there is no body there is no person to speak of. At birth and death, the body and soul come and go together, leading to the conclusion that they are connected together and rejecting dualism.