How did Descartes reach the conclusion that the mind is nonmaterial and has an existence independent of the body?
Rene Descartes was a mathematician, philosopher and scientist. He was influential in the field of mathematics. He refused to trust his own senses and avoided emotional attachments with people.
Descartes invented analytical geometry and many other new ideas from the nature and not from other people. Like Copernicus, Kepler and Galileo, Descartes believe that ultimate knowledge is the mathematical knowledge. He also accepted the Pythagorean conception of universe.
Descartes also suggested that human body and human mind are completely two different things, which have different functions and are independent. He explained body as physical and mind as non-physical. He meant that only body works and operates because of physical principles and mind does not.
He argues that both mind and body are independent but they do interact. He explained the mind-body interaction with the example that the cognitive experiences such as hunger, pain or feelings are only due to the close relation of mind with body.
Descartes concluded that mind is a non-material and independent, which can exist even without the body. He defined mind and body as complete opposites and there is possibility of mind to exist independently.
He also gave the fact that God is powerful, and he could bring into existence a mind without a body and vice versa. He explained both body and mind as different substances and has absolutely nothing in common.