Descartes’ Dualistic Conception of Human Nature

Descartes’ Dualistic Conception of Human Nature Descartes’ dualistic concept of human nature looks at two different aspects of all humankind: our mind and our body. These aspects are the exact opposite of one another. Our mind allows us to think the thoughts we have every day, and our body allows us to do the physical things within our day to day lives. Descartes came to this dualistic concept by using his theory of methodological doubt. The theory involved thinking about anything and everything he was ever taught.

By thinking these things, he came to realize that many things he was told have been false, so he went back to the beginning. He did this by doubting everything he ever thought was true, to find at least one thing he could not doubt. When finally reaching that one truth, he was able to use it to be the foundation when furthering his search to find more things he could not possibly doubt. The first truth he was able to come to was something he referred to as “cogito ergo sum”(I think therefore I am).

The cogito basically states that we are existing to the point in which we can think; however, when looking at the body (physical substance) we cannot be entirely certain that this is real in the sense that the physical things around us can all be imagined with the use of our minds. The thinking aspect of our dualistic selves can be making us believe the things we see or feel; therefore, we can doubt the physical. At the same, time we know we are thinking, so we cannot doubt the mind.

This leads to Descartes’ concept of how these two aspects are totally different. When looking at the physical and mental substances, one can see where Descartes is coming from. The mind can play tricks on us and make us believe that something is real and/or there when it really is not. There can be some sort of “puppet master” making us believe the physical things around us are real; however, when looking at the mind, we can argue that the mind, itself, is made up physical substance.

Since the mind is in fact made up of physical substance, can it not be doubted as well? Can the “puppet master” not also be making us believe what we think is actually real? With the questions of doubting our mind, I come to my conclusion that Descartes’ theory of methodological doubt in the sense of the mind and the body being two distinct characteristics of mankind, is in fact right; however, I do not think the part stating that we can doubt the physical substance (the body) is correct.

If we were going to doubt all the physical substances in our life, we would also have to doubt our mind, which in turn would lead us to doubting almost every thought we have within our lifetime. Doubting some thoughts may lead us to great discoveries to help us figure out human nature; however, I do believe doubting every thought we have will only do us harm by causing us to push everything and everyone out of our lives. When this happens, we will not be happy–happiness is after all, what separates man from every other living thing in the world.