UNFINISHED Soul, Mind and Body

Question 1

Plato’s view of the soul: Analogy of the charioteer

Answer 1

The charioteer (reason) controls two horses, the weaker (will), and the stronger (appetite).
The soul is tripartite: reason, appetite, will.

Question 2

What is substance dualism

Answer 2

the belief that the mind and the body are composed of different, separate substances and the soul can be disembodied from the body.

Question 3

Plato’s arguments for the soul (3)

Answer 3

1) cyclical nature of life (as sleep follows waking, life follows death)
2) Argument from knowledge (innate knowledge comes from the soul that pre-exists the body)
3) Argument from linguistics (we say ‘I have an arm’ but ‘I am sad’. We are mental but possess the physical)

Question 4

Aristotle’s view on the soul

Answer 4

The soul is the capability of the body: the soul of the eye is sight, the soul of the axe is chopping.

Question 5

what is property dualism?

Answer 5

the claim that humans are composed of just one kind of substance (i.e. matter), but that this substance contains both mental and physical properties.

Question 6

Wax and seal analogy

Answer 6

Like the imprint is impossible to separate from wax, the soul is impossible to separate form the body

Question 7

Descartes’ view on the soul

Answer 7

Substance dualist

Question 8

what were the principles of cartesian doubt

Answer 8

• can not be sure you arent dreaming
• Evil demon coul be controlling you an decieving the senses
• senses can decieve you

Question 9

Cogito Ergo Sum

Answer 9

‘I think therefore I am’ - The only thing we can be sure exists is the mind because we can thnk about doubting the body and mind. Ability to think proves the mind exists.

Question 10

what is leibniz law?

Answer 10

If two things are the same they must share all the same properties

To Descartes - the body can be doubted but the mind can not, so they are not the same