outline of the indivisibility argument

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Created by: imyimss
Created on: 10-10-18 14:37

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OUTLINE OF DESCARTES' INDIVISIBILITY ARGUMENT
- LEIBNIZ'S LAW
  - if two things share all the same properties then they must actually be one thing
    - but if one has any property that the other lacks, they must be two distinct things
  - how Descartes uses this law
    - mind = indivisible
    - body = divisible
- PREMISE 1
  - my mind is indivisible
    - minds seem to have a unified nature
      - don't experience mind as anything but a singular consciousness
        mental thing have no size / shape / NO EXTENSION
        no sense to talk about dividing a belief into parts
        
        indivisible
  - PREMISE 2
    - PREMISE 3
      - this argument is valid in the sense that it's impossible for something to be and not be at the same time
        can't be both divisible and non-divisible
- Descartes attempts to show that mind and body are separate, distinct things
- "when i consider the mind...I can't detect any parts within myself, I understand it to be something single and complete" - Descartes
- "if the arm or foot or any other part of the body is cut off...nothing is thereby taken away from the mind"
- sense perceptions are properties of the mind
therefore mind must be different from body
- divisibility is a property of the body which mind lacks
  - how Descartes uses this law
    - mind = indivisible
    - body = divisible
my body is divisible
- PREMISE 2
  - PREMISE 3
    - this argument is valid in the sense that it's impossible for something to be and not be at the same time
      - can't be both divisible and non-divisible
- bodies and organs are physical objects and have extention
  - can be divided
my mind is not my body

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