... and their shortcomings. However, before Descartes' argumentative interpretations can be analysed, a brief description of his Dualist viewpoint, including his understanding of the distinct realms of the body and of the mind must be undertaken. Dualism, as elucidated in the Sixth Meditation presents the body and the mind as contained within entirely separate compartments, wherein each is subject to its own regulations. Descartes' primary justification for such a concept relies upon the premise that considering he can clearly distinguish between the realms of the mind and the body he can in fact be sure that they are indeed separate entities. Here his justification relies upon God, and God's entirely good and undeceiving nature, in that the mind and the body can indeed be separate, for God, if not something else is capable of separating them (135). As shall be seen, this is obviously a flimsy bedrock for such a metaphysical ...

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