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Single Idea 3625

[from 'Meditations' by René Descartes, in 17. Mind and Body / A. Mind-Body Dualism / 8. Dualism of Mind Critique ]

Full Idea

It may be that the thing that thinks is the subject to which mind, reason or intellect belong; and this subject may thus be something corporeal.

Clarification

'Corporeal' means physical.

Gist of Idea

The 'thinking thing' may be the physical basis of the mind

Source

comment on René Descartes (Meditations [1641], §2.27) by Thomas Hobbes - Objections to 'Meditations' (Third) 173

Book Reference

Descartes,René: 'Meditations on First Philosophy etc.', ed/tr. Cottingham,John [CUP 1986], p.70


A Reaction

Of course, Descartes goes on to reject this view. Presumably he is suggesting that mind etc. might be properties of something corporeal, rather than being identical with it. Descartes was well aware of materialism in Hobbes and Gassendi.