Cartesian Dualism and its Historical Critiques: A Philosophical Analysis
Abstract
This paper is a study of Cartesian dualism and evolving critiques of dualist philosophy in the course of history. Descartes’ dualism begins with answering the fundamental nature of reality (substance). The metaphysical debate about the nature of substance is centuries old, starting with Aristotle and going to Speculative Materialism. Descartes argues that the world is made of two substances: mind and matter. These two substances are separated by an abyss. Each substance possesses its own unique essence. The mind is non-corporeal, and it is a thinking thing. Body is corporeal, and it is extended in three dimensional spaces. Mind and matter, interact with each other through pineal gland. Cartesian philosophical system has been facing critique for centuries. Almost all great philosophers have responded and critiqued it. The evolving nature of criticism has revealed the essence of Cartesian dualism as well as it has initiated a new ontological paradigm shift in modern philosophy i.e. monistic nature of reality. This critical study of Cartesian philosophy shows logical inconsistency in dualism, and it also reveals that it has historical roots in Gnosticism. These critiques are robust indicators of end of dualism in contemporary metaphysics. This paper shows Cartesian dualism suffered decline in western philosophy as a result of a collective labor of critique and no individual philosopher is responsible for its demise. Today Cartesianism is of historical importance rather than a viable paradigm of philosophical inquiry. Keywords: Dualism, Substance, Critique of Cartesianism, Gnosticism, Mind and Body Problem
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