Nathan Tyree: A Cartesian Argument for Dualism
1. I can know with certainty that I exist (from Descartes)
2. I cannot know with certainty that my body exists (also from Descartes)
3. Therefore I am not my body.
4. It follows then that if I exist but am not my body that I must be my soul.
Personally I don’t buy this argument. There are several flaws with the reasoning, but it does lead one down interesting roads.
Thoughts?
Tags (beta): philosophy
1. I can know with certainty that I exist (from Descartes)
2. I cannot know with certainty that my body exists (also from Descartes)
3. Therefore I am not my body.
4. It follows then that if I exist but am not my body that I must be my soul.
Personally I don’t buy this argument. There are several flaws with the reasoning, but it does lead one down interesting roads.
Thoughts?
Tags (beta): philosophy
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3 should be "Therefore I cannot know if I am my body."
Assuming the former 3 is valid, however, 4 would be "It follows then that if I exist, but am not my body, than I must be something else (from a shoestring to a Russian space rocket).