Home – Home – Jornals – Philosophy of Sciences 2022 number 1

The article notes that Descartes asserted that bodily movements enter the mind of a human directly from his nervous system. Recognizing also that a human’s body is controlled by his incorporeal mind, as well as that the mind is localized in the structure of the bodily human brain, Descartes actually ignored his own statement about the independent, moreover substantial, status of the mind in relation to the human body and, therefore, about their absolute isolation from each other. It is revealed that Descartes virtually adhered directly to the viewpoint that thinking is a manifestation of the functioning of a specific part of the human corporeal brain. Thus, it is established that there is not only an objective-idealistic, but also a materialistic component in the interpretation of the relationship of the human mind and the functioning of his brain. The conclusion is also made that Descartes was aware of the presence of this materialistic component in his works. Because in fear of the inquisition, the philosopher stated his views in a way that not only would not show this component explicitly and clearly, but, on the contrary, would remain it as concealed to readers as possible, including by parallel statements about his adherence to an objectively idealistic viewpoint in the form of faith in the Christian god.