Outline Descartes conceivability argument for substance dualism 5 marks

Substance dualism is the belief that the mind and the body are separate substances and are therefore not identical. Descartes conceivability argument for substance dualism claims that because Descartes can conceive of the mind being a non-physical substance and of the body being a physical substance, then it is metaphysically possible that they are so. The argument claims to be a deductive a priori argument and can be formulated as follows:P1) I can clearly and distinctly conceive of the mind and body being distinctP2) I can clearly and distinctly conceive of the mind as a non-physical substance P3) I can clearly and distinctly conceive of the body as a physical substance P4) Therefore it is metaphysically possible the two are distinct C) if it is metaphysically possible then substance dualism is true. Descartes claims that he cannot be wrong about knowing this because he knows it clearly and distinctly, therefore confirming to him that the mind and body are distinct.