Rene Descartes's "Meditations" on First Philosophy
1.In the sixth chapter of his work "Meditations" Descartes makes a distinction between the mind and the body as two things which are fundamentally different, referring to the body, he calls it "res estensa", a finite, limited thing which does not have the capacity to think. The mind on the other hand, or "res cogitans" is non extended and its function is that of thinking. The philosopher uses the expression "real distinction " when he refers to the difference between these two substances. This distinction is called "real" because it refers to the very nature of things which distinguishes one from the other. It must be underlined that a substance can exist as a substance in the absence of any other existing thing. The direct consequence of this conception is that the mind and the body can exist independently and in the absence of the other. The mater is complicated because it gives rise to an entire set of questions, such as how is it possible for two substances which are essentially different to function in perfect harmony. One of the advantages that Descartes gets out of making this "real distinction" is that he obtains a solid argument for demonstrating the immortality of the soul. From the manner in which he formulates
The second argument refers to God as a being which is necessary. In addition, he would be unable to sustain his entire thesis in the absence of one of the premises, that is the one regarding the existence of a non deceiving God. In his work, "Ontological arguments", Norman Malcolm claims that Saint Anselm had two ontological arguments which could prove the existence of God. Once we have decided upon a goal, we will do anything in our power in order to fulfil it. However, determinism refers to the existence of an infinite line of causes. Hume on the other hand believes that an individual's actions are free if they represent the effect of the determinations of one's own will. His final position however focuses on whether the causes which reside inside us are strong enough to determine actions so that things will be forced to take place the way they do. Kant's objection to the ontological arguments which Anselm brings are different. He stated that it would be illogical to say that a being which can't not exist may exist or may not exist. According to him, only the things which can exist beyond any doubt really exist. People are convinced that free will exists because we are capable of achieving self awareness. According to him, it is not the mind which is the most important category. Since the sense may be deceiving, the only instrument that can be used in order to obtain a proper knowledge of the world is represented by geometry.
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