1. Dualism
Dualismrepresentsthe viewof realityasmindand matter.Word dualismoccursfromLatin wordduo
that meanstwo. Metaphysics isone of the most important concepts of dualism;itexplainsthe
fundamental nature of beingandthe world.Dualismreduceseverythingtotworealities,and
philosopherRene Descarteswhohasbeencalled„fatherof modernphilosophy“explains iton
incredibleway.Rene Descarteswasa Frenchphilosopherwholivedandworkedin17th century.He
was knownasphilosopherwhoentailed clarityanddistinctnessinhiswork.Rene wasdelightedwith
mathematics especially withgeometry. Accordingtohisdisillusionmentwithtraditionalphilosophy
he believed thatif philosophywastobe successful itmustannex to itself somethinglike „geometrical
method“sothatit’sstartingpointsandconclusionmustbe as certainas that ingeometry.He was
rationalismphilosopherwho believedthatknowledge thatcome „inside-out“throughreason. He
believed thatonlythroughdeductionwe cangetcertainand undoable truths.Firstquestionthathe
askedhimself is„whatcanI knowfor certain?“. Asrationalisthe didn’tbelieve muchtosenses
because theyare alwaysmakingmistakesandthere isnowaythat throughsenseshe gainscertain
an distincttruth. He doubtedabouteverythingandthenhe readthe Archimedesfulcrum“Give me a
place to stand,and I will move the world!”Descartessaid,ineffect,“Give me justone certaintruth,
and I will build uponitanentire philosophy!”He wasworkingonhissystematicdoubtwhichmeans
that he doubtabout everythinginordertofindsomethingwhathe can’tdoubtabout.While he was
doubtabout everythinghe sawthatthe truth "I think,therefore Iam"onLatin „Cogitoergosum“”is
surelytruthand there isnodoubt aboutit.Upon thistruth he builtthe entire philosophy,he asked
himself questionslike„Ithink,therefore Iam.But whatam I? What is mind...“He found answer
whichis„thinkingsubstance“whichmeansthe whole essence of the substance istothink.He made a
decisioninwhichhe saysthatonlything inwhichhe will believe hastobe understoodclearlyand
verydistinctly,thatmeansmindis athinkingsubstance, alongwiththe criterionof clearand distinct
ideas.Descartes work tofurtherconsideration isaboutGod(perfection).He namedtwoproofsfor
the existence of God,fistone doesn’thave name butitcan be describedlikethis,accordingtothe
fact that all of us have a ideaof perfection,Descartesinhismind discovered the ideaof beingmore
perfectthanhimself- afterdoubtingaboutithe understoodthat it’sagreaterperfectiontoknow
than to doubt. The Descartes secondproof forGod is Ontological argument.Secondproof beginson
almostthe same way like first one;Descartesbeginswiththe ideaof mostperfectbeing,the perfect
beingpossesall possible perfectionslike omnipotent,omniscient...andGodmustexist. Godwould
not be perfectif he doesn’tpossess all perfections.InthiswayDescartesimpliesexistence of God,
and he comparesGod perfectionwiththe „mountainandvalley“.There cannotbe mountainwithout
valleyandthere cannotbe valleywithoutmountain. Deduction of mattercansimply be explained on
thisway „onthe basisof God and some otherclearand distinctideas,Descartesleadsustoa further
consideration:the worldof material objects“.Descartesexplainsthateverythingcomes fromGod,
and God wouldn’tcreate false ormisleadingideasbecausethatismoral defect.ThusGodis
guarantor of our knowledge.Keepinginmindall thingsthatRene Descarteswontedtosayinhis
writingaboutphilosophy we could make aconclusioninwhichour senses are notguarantor of
certainty butwithour mindwe can recognize Godwhichisguarantor that material thingsare real.In
Dualismeverythingisaboutmindandmaterial things,butRene Descartesprovedtousthatwe can
believeinmaterial thingsonlybecause Godwho isguarantorof our knowledge.
Tarik Bektas21400428 INTERNATIONALRELATIONS
