6-8pp, due Oct. 4
Cartesian Dualism and its Critics
In your
paper, provide a short characterization of the dualistic view of the
mind and mental processes which Descartes defends in the
Meditations, and address the following questions:
What
arguments does Descartes explicitly advance in support of his view? Do
they work? If not, why not? Are there other arguments (perhaps implicit
in Heil's discussion of dualism in Ch.2) that might be more effective?
What positive
considerations seem to count against Cartesian dualism? Of these, which
do you find the most forceful and why? What makes the others less so?
Are there responses to these criticisms available to Descartes? If not,
can these criticisms be adequately addressed by modifying Descartes'
dualism in some way while still retaining the core of his position? Or
do these criticism seem to overthrow dualism altogether?
In your paper, try to give evidence of having understood the
various concepts, distinctions, doctrines, arguments, etc., that have
figured prominently in readings, lectures, and discussion.
Additionally, please be sure to do the following:
1) Furnish an appropriate title for your paper.
2) Cite the relevant pages when you paraphrase or quote.
3)
Provide an introductory paragraph in which you 1) announce your topic,
22) convey its importance, and 3) state the thesis you will defend.
4) Provide a concluding paragraph in which you re-iterate the thesis you have argued for.
5)
Edit your paper: That means you should subject your first-draft to a
round of substantial revision of content, organization, grammar, and
style.
6) Proofread your paper: That means you should read through your
paper after you print it out to make sure you have left no
typographical errors, etc.
In writing your paper, you should aim
for clarity and precision of expression. Bear in mind also that your
paper will be assessed, not on what position you take, but on how well you argue whatever position you choose to defend.
