Descartes’ Mind-Body Holism and the Primacy of Experience

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter examines Descartes’ use of hylomorphic language, and reflects on the tensions that his view of human nature creates for his dualism. The chapter examines some crucial texts in light of recent interpretations which take Descartes’ holistic view of the mind-body union seriously while at the same time trying to save his dualist commitments. One option is to accept substance dualism without a coherent view of human nature, another to accept a strong form of mind-body holism with deflated notions both of substance and dualism. The reading pursued here is along the lines of the latter, but it comes with worries concerning both the nature of Descartes’ dualism and the traces of hylomorphism in his doctrine. The chapter discusses the primacy and nature of the experience Descartes appeals to as a basis for our understanding the unity of human nature and explores its implications for his dualistic psychology.