Descartes’ notion of substance and dualism of mind and body

The notion of cogito definitely made Descartes certain of the existence of mind but it did
not solve the question about the existence of the physical world. Descartes attempted to
answer it by his notion of substance and mind body dualism.

Rene Descartes stated that the basic substance of the world was made up of mind and
matter and that both of these were separate existences. the reason to claim mind and
matter as different entities, was that Descartes was absolutely certain of the existence
of mind but he did out the existence of matter, and hence they must be distinct from
each other, on the basis that, if two objects have the same properties, and occupy the
same space, they really are not different but the same and one object. On this basis, in
descartes’ view if he was doubting the existence of matter but was not doubting the
existence of mind, they must be different . And if they are different they must possess
different qualities and vice versa.

Rene Descartes further explained that mind is a non corporeal entity with 'Res cogitans’
aur abilities of cognition that is thinking doubting etc. Why body or matter is corporeal
stuff with 'res extensa’ or extension in space. These two are the ultimate substances
and they are radically different as the governing principles are totally different.

Another reason that provided support for Rene descartes mind body dualism, that if all
the mathematical measures applied to the external world ( matter ) gave the same result
to the internal world when applied to it, they might be considered same. But such is not
the case, as when applying mathematical method to matter, the results are quantitative
while when applied to mind, are qualitative, which must mean that they are different
from each other.

The dualism of mind and body raised a question to modern philosophy, that is only
humans possess the combination of mind and body unlike other existences as Rene
Descartes suggested, and if they are separate things, then how was such mindbody
combination possible , or what was the relation of mind and body? When I think that I
want to Grab something or go somewhere etc. How does my body act in accordance
with the thought?

For the refutation of this problem Rene Descartes first proved the existence of god, and
then propounded interactionism, explaining that nature of mind and body relation and
reaction is causal and reciprocal. And such relation can only be innate which is
maintained in human beings by act of God.

Rene Descartes’ theory of substance and dualism of mind and body still contains some
fallacies such as the masked man fallacy and hence still puts a question mark to refute
such fallacies or refute his theories and arguments to the modern philosophy.