Rethinking Descartes's Substance Dualism

Descartes' dualism is interpreted as an emergent creationist substance dualism,according to which the mind is a nonphysical substance created and maintained by God and cannot begin to think without a well-disposed body. This interpretation is consistent with creationism and does not necessarily entail that the mind cannot survive the body. It offers a more appropriate alternative to classical separatist dualism and is valuable for anyone interested in the history of early modern philosophy and contemporary philosophy of mind.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 152 pages
Publication date: 03 September 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This monograph presents a novel interpretation of Descartes' dualism, which diverges from the conventional understanding known as "classical separatist dualism." It argues that contrary to popular belief, Descartes' texts suggest an emergent creationist substance dualism, according to which the mind is a nonphysical substance (created and maintained by God) that cannot begin to think without a well-disposed body. This interpretation posits that God's laws of nature endow each human body with the power to be united to an immaterial soul. While the soul does not directly originate from the body, the mind can be said to emerge from the body in the sense that it cannot be created by God independently of the body. The divine creation of a human mind necessitates a well-disposed body, a physical categorical basis. This form of emergentism aligns with creationism and does not necessarily imply that the mind cannot survive the body.

This early modern view shares certain similarities with Hasker's substance emergent dualism (1999). Hasker argues that the mind is a substance that emerges at one point from neurons, and that consciousness possesses causal powers that cannot be fully explained by physical neurons. For his proponents, Hasker's view provides an explanation for what Descartes' dualism fails to explain, particularly why the mind consistently interacts with one and only one body. After challenging the notion of emergence, the author argues that the theory of emergent creationist substance dualism attributed to Descartes is a more suitable alternative due to its fewer problems compared to its rivals.

This monograph is of significant value to anyone interested in exploring the complexities of Descartes' dualism and its implications for the philosophy of mind and body. It offers a fresh perspective on an old debate and provides a valuable contribution to the ongoing discussion of these topics.

Weight: 261g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030754167
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021