back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 4862

[from 'Meditations' by René Descartes, in 15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 3. Mental Causation ]

Full Idea

I am in ignorance whether the pineal gland can be agitated more slowly or more quickly by the mind than by the animal spirits.

Gist of Idea

Can the pineal gland be moved more slowly or quickly by the mind than by animal spirits?

Source

comment on René Descartes (Meditations [1641], §6.82) by Baruch de Spinoza - The Ethics V Pref

Book Reference

Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Ethics, Improvement of Understanding, Letters', ed/tr. Elwes,R [Dover 1955], p.246


A Reaction

Is this the earliest statement of the problem of double causation? It is a classic difficulty for dualists, highlighted by Ryle, among others. Avoidance of double causation is a classic reason for moving to monism about mind.