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Cartesian Modes and The Simplicity of Mind
Author(s) -
Barry Galen
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
pacific philosophical quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.914
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1468-0114
pISSN - 0279-0750
DOI - 10.1111/papq.12041
Subject(s) - simplicity , mind–body problem , epistemology , extension (predicate logic) , philosophy , cartesian coordinate system , divisibility rule , computer science , mathematics , pure mathematics , geometry , programming language
Abstract Malebranche argues that we lack a clear idea of the mind because we cannot, even in principle, derive all the possible modes of mind solely from the idea of thought. But we can, in principle, derive all the possible modes of body from the idea of extension. Therefore, there is epistemic asymmetry between our ideas of mind and body. I offer a defense of D escartes whereby he can assert that we have a clear idea of mind despite this asymmetry. I argue that he can do this by distinguishing the simplicity of mind from the divisibility of body.