Single Idea 5695

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / A. Mind-Body Dualism / 2. Interactionism]

Full Idea

Nothing can touch or be touched except body.

Gist of Idea

Only bodies can touch one another

Source

Lucretius (On the Nature of the Universe [c.60 BCE], I.303)

Book Reference

Lucretius: 'On the Nature of the Universe', ed/tr. Latham,Ronald [Penguin 1951], p.36


A Reaction

This is the key objection to interactionism, and the main reason why the atomists have a thoroughly material view of the mind. It is an induction from a very large number of instances, but the argument is not, of course, conclusive.