Rene Descartes · Philosophy

Mind and Body

Descartes argues that mind and body are two utterly different substances - thinking and unextended versus extended and unthinking - distinct enough to exist apart. This dualism shapes the modern mind-body problem.

What you'll be able to recall

You learned that Descartes held mind and body to be two distinct substances: the mind is thinking and unextended, the body extended and unthinking. Explain his argument that they are really distinct, and the problem of how they interact.

Leads to Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia.

Begin this lesson →
← All lessons on Rene Descartes

epoché — a humanities education that remembers you.