Definition of Anthropological Dualism

Anthropological dualism is a philosophical concept that starts from the premise that the human being is made up of body and soul.

That is to say, this theory emphasizes that the human being cannot be reduced to the corporality of him since, beyond the material connotations of the presence corporal of the human being there is an afterlife, an immaterial entity that is not perceived in itself but is perceived through the actions that vivify the body.

The position of Plato and Descartes

Plato considered that the soul is the principle that vivifies the body. Other thinkers also came to the same conclusion: Descartes is a clear example of this. From this point of view, body and soul have two different realities but they interact in a constant way. In fact, a mental illness can have its reflection in the corporal plane.

Somatize emotions

This is the case, for example, with the somatization of stress that can cause digestive problems, sleep disturbances, back pain, stomach pain...

In the same way, the body environment also influences at the level emotional as shown by the fact that a person who suffers disease serious has to make a greater effort to be optimistic and remain content than someone who is healthy.

Physical pain can also cause sadness psychic. These are the conclusions offered by the psychology which also reflects on the interaction between body and mind.

Plato, on the other hand, had a more pessimistic view of the body as shown by one of his famous statements: "The body is the prison of the soul."

The mystery of life

Anthropological dualism also connects with the essence of the mystery of life, with the observation of that dignity that differentiates the human being from the rest of beings since the person thanks to his intelligence and will, shows remarkable autonomy and wisdom.

On the other hand, beyond the corporality of the person there are immaterial faculties such as intelligence and will. In addition, feelings they are also immaterial, they cannot be seen but felt. There is no scientific demonstration of the existence of the soul, however, its reality is intuited at the philosophical as the argument of those thinkers who have reflected on dualism shows anthropological.