Augustine’s Master Argument for the Incorporeality of the Mind

Tamer Nawar

doi:10.1093/pq/pqab020

Abstract

Abstract In De Trinitate 10, Augustine offers an argument that seemingly proceeds from certain premises about self-knowledge to the conclusion that the mind is incorporeal. Although the argument has sometimes been compared to later Cartesian arguments, it has received relatively little philosophical attention. In this paper, I offer a detailed analysis and original interpretation of Augustine's argument and argue that it is not vulnerable to some of the main objections which have been raised against it. I go on to argue that while an important part of Augustine's argument does face several hitherto neglected objections, Augustine's ultimate case for the incorporeality of the mind is somewhat different and more successful than one might initially think.

Highlights

In book 10 of his De Trinitate, Augustine offers an argument that seemingly proceeds from certain premises about the mind’s self-knowledge to the conclusion that the mind is incorporeal
Despite its intrinsic interest and historical importance (Augustine played an important role in popularising the view that the mind and soul are incorporeal), Augustine’s argument has attracted relatively little philosophical attention and several of its central aspects have not been adequately understood
Insisting that one’s cognisance of one’s own mind is on a par with one’s cognisance of ordinary corporeal things seems to entail that the corporealist should abandon any pretensions to epistemically privileged self-knowledge

Summary

University of Groningen

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By Tamer Nawar

INTRODUCTION

CONCLUSION