Substantial Self

Classification

Position level

specific

Domains

Philosophy of Mind

Overview

Descartes argued that while the body and every sensory belief can be doubted away, the act of doubting cannot be doubted without presupposing a thinker who doubts — so in Meditation II "I am a thinking thing" survives every doubt. He later argued (Meditation VI) that this thinking substance is really distinct from the body and, unlike the body, indivisible — one and the same subject across the mind's changing thoughts.

Position on

• Existence of the Self

Held by traditions

• Continental Rationalism

  Question scope: Existence of the Self

Incompatible positions

• Bundle Theory

  Question scope: Existence of the Self

• No-Self

  Question scope: Existence of the Self

References

• René Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy, Meditations II and VI