Good Dualism (other people’s bodies)

January 8th, 2007 Fred McVittie Posted in Dualism, Morality, Soul |

One of the reasons for the widespread rejection of Cartesian Dualism in the form of the body/mind split is the perceived differences in value which historically have been assigned to body and to mind (or soul). Because there has been a tradition of the body as something ‘fallen’ and corrupt and a corresponding tradition of the soul as transcendent and divine any acceptance of dualism which seems to embrace these traditions is tainted with this difference, which most people today find unacceptable. However, we routinely have a wide range of different relationships with other people’s bodies which do not include such negative evaluation, including relationships of identification and possession, so the dualism inherent in the redefining of oneself as a non-corporeal entity ‘inside’ one’s body does not necessarily lead to alienation, or to a negative value being assigned to the flesh in contrast to a higher more ethereal ’spirit’.