On Descartes' Theory Of Mind–body Causation

Rene Descartes, who tried to build a complete scientific system, was a great philosopher. His philosophy system, however, had some inevitable contradictions just like other philosophy systems, such as Mind–Body Union. Although the Mind-Body union was not a main point in Descartes` first philosophy at first, it appeared as long as he tried to expound and prove the difference between the two entities, body and mind.Mind-Body union, as the centre contradiction in Descartes` s philosophy, exerts far-reaching influences on the philosophy community, and it still unsolved today. Many domestic scholars have interested in Descartes` First Philosophy, most of their outcomes focus, however, on the differences between the mind and the body. Furthermore, the researches of the Mind–Body Union are rare, and the articles about Descartes` Mind-Body Caution even make it last .Thus, Descartes` Mind–Body Caution has its unavoidable value and meaning, that is, it is a problem worth to further research. This paper will discuss Mind-Body Union, as the most puzzling problem in Descartes` philosophy, through the thought of Descartes` Mind–Body Caution.Descartes` dualism is the dualism of mankind, that is, Mind–Body dualism. The essence of Descartes` philosophy is to separate mind and body, find foundation for science and search theoretical basis for the exist of God. Descartes` didn't deny the following theory: on the one hand, mind and body are different; on the other hand, they are uniform. But we wonder that he is a person who stressed the differences between mind and body; can he explain the union of mind and body? This paper will divide into four parts to explain Descartes` Mind–Body Union, that is, his thought of Mind–Body Caution. The first phase will discuss the background of the rise of Descartes` thought of Mind–Body Caution: Laterally, this paper tries to explain the real factors of Descartes` thought of Mind–Body Caution on the basis of his struggling thoughts and meditations of Mind–Body Union; vertically, to discuss other philosophers` influences on the historic resources of Descartes` thought of Mind– Body Caution. Furthermore, the next two parts will specifically analyze and interpret the Mind–Body Caution, from the psychological and physiological (pineal gland) perspective of Descartes` thought of the relations of mind and body .Finally, this paper will give a simple analysis, it tries to further structured, systematic and concrete Descartes` thought, therefore, reflecting the following generations` solutions and stressing the influences of Descartes `philosophy on the philosophy community.