Self, Death and afterlife

Question 1

monism

Answer 1

hold that you exist in a single substance, that your body and your soul is the same thing

Question 2

dualism

Answer 2

hold that we are made of body and soul as two separate things interact

Question 3

cartesian

Answer 3

ideas relating to Descartes

Question 4

Descartes first proof

Answer 4

The argument from doubt.

• I can doubt that may body exists
• but I cannot doubt that i am thinking as doubt is a form of thinking
• therefore because I am thinking i am not identical with my body.

cogito ergo sum

Question 5

what does cogito ergo sum mean

Answer 5

I think therefore i am

Question 6

Descartes second proof

Answer 6

the argument from divisibility and non divisibility

• all bodies are extended in space
• minds are not extended in space and therefore not divisible
• minds are therefore radically different from bodies

Question 7

Descartes third proof

Answer 7

the argument from clear and distinct perception

• whatever I clearly and distinctly perceive as two separate things can be created by god as two separate things
• I have clear and distinct idea of myself as a non- extended thinking thing
• I have clear and distinct idea of my body as an extended non- thinking thing
• so I and my body can exist apart from each other
• so I am distinct from my body

Question 8

Hume’s criticisms of Descartes

Answer 8

• Descartes argument is circular and is the same as saying we need a substance that thinks a soul is a thinking substance
• it may simply be that the cause of thought is material substance i.e. the brain
• if souls are not in space and are invisible how do we know the number of souls match the number of bodies
• the self is an illusion and is simply the flow of our experiences rather than something that sits in the soul and observes them