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Rene Descartes, a French Mathematician and modern Philosopher, created a unique philosophy grounded in stable and enduring scientific principles. His approach relied on the foundations of senses, reason, doubt, and belief in pursuit of Truth and knowledge. The nature of Truth and knowledge continues to be a topic of debate among philosophers. In the early 21st century, as the Information Age began, a modern philosopher remarked that the study of philosophy has become synonymous with the study of language.
Despite being distinct from our bodies, humans have long been fascinated by the philosophical concept of the self separate from the physical form.
These metaphysical ideas, often touching on ontological questions, straddle the realms of religious theology and philosophy. Advancements in physical sciences, such as Einstein’s theory of Relativity, have provided a clearer understanding of space, matter, time, and forces, sparking further interest in the philosophical exploration of the connections between mind, matter, and the supernatural.
Engaging in this activity is a common pastime for those who are educated and curious.
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The scientific and methodological study of any field involves the development of Thesis, Hypothesis, and Anti-Thesis. Each Thesis is accompanied by an Anti-Thesis, raising questions about whether the self is separate from the body. It is argued that the senses can be deceptive, perceptions may not be true, and memories can be unreliable. This leads to the conclusion that nothing can be certain, suggesting that our senses and bodies may not accurately represent reality. It is proposed that humans may be distinct from their bodies, calling into question both our rationality as 'rational animals' and the reliability of human reasoning.
But the concept of rationality and the differentiation between a man and an animal can be questioned.
Man may experience an identity crisis when relying solely on material knowledge. The notion of a soul separates the self from the physical body! Not all occurrences can be explained by sensory perception, reasoning, and physical bodies. These must be attributed to a supernatural phenomenon, known as 'the soul'. If the self is to be distinguished from the body, it may take the form of the soul. The abilities of self-movement, sensation, and thought, as per Rene Descartes, are foreign to the nature of the body.
Descartes' philosophical experiments with himself, using the faculty of his mind, have led to conclusions about the relationship between subjectivity, objectivity, and their distinction from the body. This method is Descartes' most powerful tool, setting him apart from other modern philosophers. An example of this is his experiment with awakening during sleep, where he perceives things through senses that are inaccessible when awake. Descartes carefully recalls his thoughts and experiences for philosophical study.
'Thinking' and 'being' are considered distinct by Descartes, who proposes that he could exist independent of his body as a thinking entity through the power of imagination. His well-known declaration, "I think therefore I am," reflects this concept. Descartes acknowledges that human minds and judgments are fallible, leading him to believe that truth must exist beyond the limitations of the human mind and body. He concludes that a perfect God, with infinite understanding, must exist because human judgment is prone to error and imperfection.
There is a philosophical approach to discovering the Truth by eliminating errors, which involves believing in a Universal Truth that exists beyond the limitations of the human body. This belief leads to the understanding that we are separate from our bodies. The existence of God serves as undeniable evidence for this thesis, as the belief in God reinforces the idea of the self being distinct from the body. It would be contradictory to associate God with a physical body, as Descartes believed God to be infinite.
The idea of life after death, as represented by the soul in various religious beliefs, reinforces the concept that we are separate from our physical bodies. Rene Descartes, known for his work on the mind, particularly in 'The Fourth Meditation,' describes his experience of training his mind to detach from the senses and focus solely on the intellect. Through philosophical meditation, Descartes reached the conclusion that he was distinct from matter. He believed that the human will goes beyond physical limitations, allowing for consciousness to exist independently from the body. While some philosophers argue for this distinction, modern science challenges the mind-body separation theory. Despite Descartes' background in science, he ultimately pursued philosophical inquiries later in life.
A scientist, such as a Doctor, would dismiss claims of separating the self from the body by citing scientific evidence from encyclopedias. Carl Jung's experiment disproved the existence of a soul. Modern psychology books do not recognize the distinction between self and body. Philosophical methods may be misleading, as they rely on speculation and subjectivity which can vary among philosophers. In contrast, science is based on empirical experiments that are indisputable once accepted. Psychology acknowledges a self-concept, which carries a certain mystique as it cannot be physically perceived. The self-concept is commonly simplified to 'I' and 'me' across various fields of knowledge.
Psychologists commonly associate the self concept, the I – Self, with the individual and his states of mind – Conscious, subconscious and unconscious. The idea of Body- Ego can demonstrate the unity of self and body. According to Hartmann, Kris, and Loewenstein, the development of mental structure includes an ego state known as the Body Ego. They argue persuasively that both the ego and id originate from a undifferentiated state.
Conclusion: The tension arising from the embodied self-concept is that the stream of consciousness might be seen as contained within a being, whereas the self (comprising memories, beliefs, and characteristics) may not necessarily be limited by those boundaries.
Our intuition tells us that our consciousness defines our identity. It's crucial to acknowledge the dualism existing not just between mind and body, but also between consciousness and mind. The longstanding philosophical discussion on whether "Self is separate from the body" is a intricate interdisciplinary field, typically explored by philosophy scholars. The continuous debate surrounding this topic makes it an intriguing academic pursuit. Nevertheless, philosophers and philosophy students should be cautious not to unintentionally oppose scientific discoveries or question firmly held religious or theological convictions.
Society penalized Galileo for being ahead of his time. However, modern society is now more accepting of new ideas, even blasphemous ones. Recent news reports show that the West is no longer easily shocked, as evidenced by the church forgiving the Beatles for claiming they were more popular than Jesus. Philosophers and philosophy students can play a valuable role in any era, and should not isolate themselves from society.
The Self and the Body: A Philosophical Inquiry. (2016, Nov 28). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/rene-descartes-six-meditations-distinction-of-self-from-the-body-essay
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