Philosophy 1020 Lecture : Dualism.docx
11 Feb 2014
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Two main senses (or meanings) of existence: commonsensical sense of existence. Everyday use of existence": ultimate sense of existence. Note: these questions are asked in the ultimate sense of the word existence" and not in the everyday sense of the word. Descartes: substance dualism: everything (or every entity) is either: thinking substance (mind/soul): Essence = {thinking, unextended, no parts: material substance (bodies) Ideas from sensory experience are either voluntary or involuntary. If sensory ideas are involuntary, then they arise from things external to minds. Sensory ideas are involuntary: (therefore), ideas from sensory experience arise from external things. Result: things external to the thinking substance exist. Note: we have yet to show that these things are material things and not some other kind of entities. Ideas from dreams arise from the thinking substance. Yet, it seems we do not have control over these ideas. Result: we seem to have ideas from within us that are involuntary.
