Princess Elisabeth

 Elisabeth is concerned with two things namely; mind and body. She needs a clarification on the causal interaction between the two and the main questions which Elisabeth asks is that ‘is there a relationship between an immaterial substance (soul) and material substance (body). In specific, she wanted to understand how the mind-body interaction and the ability of mind to push the body.

Descartes responds by introducing the ‘passions of the soul’ and states that passions are perceptions of the soul which are controlled by the spirit. In the primitive notions, passions are in the mind-body realm and at this point he states that the sensation and passions are caused by the ability of soul to move the body. The interaction means that soul and body are different things and the interaction is a dynamic concept (Skirry, 39). Descartes adds that passions are caused by animal spirits and imagination activates the body and makes it react toward the emotions. Soul plays an important role to accept the passions which are prepared for the body.  On the passion of the soul, Descartes says that the things which are experienced and seen   belong to the body and the soul contributes the thoughts. In this case, the soul helps the body experience the thought and the soul helps the body to understand the external perceptions (Skirry, 39).    

Mind is indivisible and body is visible and this means that mind and body are different in nature. In addition, mind is a thinking substance while body cannot think and both are controlled by own independent laws. Even thought they are distinct, there is an intimate union and a substantial unity. Descartes says that interaction is seen in sensations and feelings which comes from the mind and experienced by the body (Skirry, 40). There a causal interaction between mental state and physical state. For example, the pineal gland is the center for interaction and unity occurs when animal spirits enter in the pineal gland and mind becomes conscious during the movement.  The mind affects the flow of the animal spirits and body becomes affected (Skirry, 40).

 Descartes offers a satisfying solution because; mind is an incorporeal substance and has the power to carry out mental works. An important point to understand is that there is a substantial unity since mind controls the body and the body influences the mind (Skirry, 45).  I also understand that even though mind and body differs in nature, the passions unite them and mechanism between the two substances is reinforced by the pituitary gland. For example, biological description is enough to explain the interaction between the two. The passions come from the soul and they also affect the body through the movement of animal spirits. Thus, the mind influences the body (Skirry, 87).

 

Reference

Skirry, Justin. Descartes and the Metaphysics of Human Nature. London: Continuum, 2005. Internet

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