Descartes’ Real Distinction Proof:
A Formulation (IP3 67b)

1. God is omnipotent.
2. If I can clearly and distinctly imagine X as Y, then God can make X be Y. (1)
3. If God can make my mind and body be separate, then my mind and body are different things.
4. The essence of my mind is that it is a thinking thing.
5. The essence of my body is that is not that it is a thinking thing.
6. I can clearly and distinctly imagine my mind and body as separate. (4, 5)
7.God can make my mind and my body be separate. (6, 2)
8. My mind and my body are different things. (7, 3)


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Richard Lee, rlee@uark.edu, last modified: 22 November 2004