Critical Study of Descartes' View on Mind-Body Relation from the Perspective of Transcendent Philosophy

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

researcher in Imam Sadiq Research Academy

Abstract

The present article is a response to extreme dualism of mind and body offered in philosophy of Descartes, which raised the problem of proper explanation of these two. For none of the solutions provided by Descartes was satisfactory. He finally acknowledged his inability by recommending us not to think about it.
The purpose of the article is examine the best response to rationally and properly explain the way mind and body are related which is to be found in transcendent philosophy of Mulla Sadra. In his view the mind or soul in the initial stage of its generation is corporeal and body is its lower level. As result of substantial motion it attains higher levels and finally can spiritually subsist.

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