The mind-body problem has been always been a controversial subject which can simply be defined as the uniqueness of the mind’s relation to bodies. To ignite this argument, one could ask the question “how can anything that acts only by thinking have effects on something that can be acted upon only by being moved?” With that, an in depth look into dualism (any philosophical position that divides existence into two completely distinct, independent, unique substances) is presented.
For some, a car-driver analogy can be used. The mind is the driver and the body is the car. However, Descartes rejects this idea and unites the mind and body into a whole. This leads us to Cartesian dualism. Cartesian dualism can be defined as sensations that go with the body, not with the mind, but they only exist from the perspective of the mind. Descartes was the first to clearly identify the mind with consciousness and self-awareness and to distinguish this from the brain, which was the seat of intelligence. Descartes held that the immaterial mind and the material body are two completely different types of substances and that they interact with each other. He reasoned that the body could be divided up by removing a leg or arm, but the mind or soul were indivisible. As proof, Descartes used cogito ergo sum, "I reflect, therefore I am." We cannot doubt the existence of our own self because we cannot doubt it unless there was a self to do the doubting. Though the mind and body are of a different nature, they still reacted on each other. Senses and physical movement are dependent on the body. Awareness, however, lies in the soul. According to Descartes, awareness is achieved by the body acting upon it.
As this concept is not easily grasped, Descartes presents his arguments for dualism. These arguments are as follows: The argument from doubt maintains that the existence of all physical