Heavily inspired by Descartes, Malebranche examines the human mind in The Search After Truth. Both philosophers acknowledge that the existence of the mind is better known than that of the body; however, Malebranche claims that the body can ultimately be known better than the mind. This is in direct response to Descartes' claim that the mind is better known than the body. After examining Descartes' claims, we will then examine Malebranche's counter-claims and analyze his strongest arguments against Descartes. Finally, possible responses by Descartes accompanied by an examination of the philosophical bases of both writers may help to show that Malebranche does not effectively serve to disprove Descartes' claim.
For Descartes, certainty of knowledge can be obtained by first doubting everything that can be doubted and then assenting only to clear and distinct ideas. The subject of Descartes' Second Meditation is the nature of the human mind and "that it is better known than the body.1" After withdrawing from his body, Descartes exists as a mere thinking thing- one who can doubt, understand, affirm, deny, will, refuse, imagine and sense (AT 7.28). The realization that he is thinking is sufficient for Descartes to prove his existence, at least as a thinking thing. Next, Descartes finds himself full of ideas, each with their own true nature; and subsequently, he finds it significant that all these things belong to him. Thus, through realization of his existence and that he contains ideas, Descartes has arrived at some knowledge of the mind.
In his Principles of Philosophy, Descartes elaborates on the definition of a substance. This definition helps explain arguments of how the body is better known ...