Summary AQA RS Revision: Descartes, Self, Death & Afterlife – Full Topic Notes

Descartes on the Existence of the
Soul
Substance
Dualism
The mind and body are distinct
properties:​
Matter is res extensa (Latin for
extended thing)​​
Mind is res cognita (Latin for mental substance)​
Second
First Proof Third Proof
Proof
Argument Argument Argument
from Doubt from from Clear
Divisibility and Distinct
- When we doubt,
we cannot doubt and Non Perception
that we doubt Divisibility - A clear idea is one
that is immediately
- I think therefore I - Bodies are divisible, rationally intuited. A
am – cogito ergo minds are distinct idea is one
indivisible, that cannot be
sum – Foundation
therefore the mind mistaken for any
of argument is not the body. other idea.

- Evidence for - All qualia (states of - I have a clear and
dualism, if you distinct idea of
mind) are
myself as a non-
can doubt that indivisible extended thinking
the body exist thing. I have a clear
but can’t doubt - Derived from and distinct idea of
Leibniz my body as an
that the mind
‘Indiscernibility of extended non-
exists then they Identicals’ - if two thinking thing.
must be things look the
separate same they should - So I and my body
be treated as being can exist apart from
same, the each other.
discernability of the
- So I am distinct
mind and body from my body.
shows that they are
separate