Frank Ungerer

History of Early Modern Philosophy

Spinozas Mind/Body Theory

Summary: Spinoza, being a monist, possesses a unique idea regarding the
relationship between mind and body compared to the philosophies of Descartes.
Spinoza believed that there existed only one substance, God, and it is through the
modification of Gods infinite attributes that everything else exists. The two of Gods
distinct attributes that are noticeable to humans are thought and extension (mind
and body). While Spinoza rejects that widely regarded notion that mind and body
are two distinct in kind and can interact with one another and instead posits that if
the two can interact with one another then they must share some common the
means by which they interact. For example when a person sees an object, say an
apple, the persons body (through the eyes and visual sense organs) and the apple
interact, sharing the same external light and thus having something in common. In
this way, humans body and external bodies have in common that they are both
made up of matter. This is not true however, for the mind, which is not comprised of
matter and therefore cannot interact with matter. To illustrate better, imagine two
physical objects, A and B. A can affect B through physical contact, gravitational pull,
etc. and vice versa. Now imagine that B were a metaphysical object. Can A still affect
B? How? Spinoza posits that A can no longer affect in B since the two no longer have
anything in common.
Given this assertion, how is it that the mind can clearly affect and interact
with the body as seen every time one has the thought to raise their hand and then
promptly raises said hand? Spinoza answers this through God. Imagine for an
instance that God is standing in a room full of curved mirrors so that each reflection
of God is slightly different from one another. Obviously the reflections are unable to
interact with one another yet still possess the commonality that they are all of God.
One of these reflections would be the entire physical universe (body). Another
would be the mental universe (mind). Therefore, the relationship, or more
appropriately lack there of between the mind and body occurs because the two are
distinct attributes of God expressed in different way with nothing in common, thus
preventing one from being change about in the other.
Objection: Spinoza, early on in the Ethics asserts that substance cannot be
produced by anything else. My objection is why not? There are numerous cases in
the world in which one thing produces another: childbirth, ore smelting, etc. Spinoza
rests the foundation of his philosophical belief on this groundwork and yet there are
many counter examples ready to be observed in the world. Another critique comes
from the assertion that the essence of substance is to exist. What if the essence of a
substance is to produce? Say, in the case of factories, hammers, pencils, musical
instruments, etc. These objects would have no purpose if there were not other
object that could be made from/with them as that was the reason for their creation.
Similarly, many hold the belief that humanities purpose is the creation and
preservation of humanity. In this manner, Spinozas assertions come across as
hypothetical and lacking realization.