Philosophy 272: Handout D3

I. Proof of an external world: (Paragraph x)

1. I have ideas of sensible things.
2. These ideas must have a cause.
3. I am not the cause of these ideas.
4. Thus, the cause must be distinct from me.
5. The cause is either corporeal things, God, or some incorporeal creation of God.
6. The cause cannot be God or some incorporeal creation of God.
7. Thus, the cause is corporeal things.
8. Consequently, corporeal things exist.

II. The Argument From Doubt: (Meditation II, Paragraph vii; Meditation VI, Paragraph ix?)

1. I can doubt that my body (and every other material thing) exists.
2. I cannot doubt that I exist.
3. Therefore, I am not my body (or any other material thing).

III. The Conceivability of an Independent Mind and Body: (Meditation VI, Paragraph ix)

1. If I can clearly and distinctly conceive X existing in a certain way, then X can really exist in that way.
2. If I can clearly and distinctly conceive X existing apart from Y, then X really can exist apart from Y.
3. If X can exist without Y, then X and Y are two different things.
4. If I can clearly and distinctly conceive X existing apart from Y, then X and Y are two different things.
5. I can clearly and distinctly conceive myself (as a thinking and non-extended thing) existing apart from (my) body (as an extended and non-thinking thing)
6. Thus, I am not my body.

IV. The Indivisibility of the Mind: (Meditation VI, Paragraph xix)

1. The mind is plainly indivisible.
2. The body is divisible.
3. Thus, mind and body are distinct.