The union of the mind and the body in the phislosophy of Descartes

Descartes admet simultanément deux thèses : la distinction réelle de l’âme et du corps, pensées comme deux substances séparées, d’une part, et leur union substantielle de l’autre. Comment ces deux substances, radicalement distinctes, peuvent-elles être unies ? Dans l'histoire de la philosophie, la métaphysique cartésienne est comprise comme un dualisme, distinguant radicalement la substance pensante et la substance étendue, donc l’âme et le corps. Ma thèse conduit à renverser une telle représentation grâce à la considération de la correspondance avec Elisabeth. Elle montre que sa conception des relations entre l’âme et le corps est plus complexe qu’on ne le pense souvent, et montre aussi comment sa philosophie réussit à assurer la compatibilité de sa métaphysique, de sa philosophie naturelle et de sa philosophie pratique. La pensée cartésienne s’adresse ainsi aux hommes, non seulement dans leur réflexion métaphysique,mais aussi dans leur expérience de la vie.Descartes simultaneously admits two theses: one is the real distinction between mind and bodythought as two separate substances, and the other is their substantial union. How can these two radically distinct substances be united? In the history of philosophy, Cartesian metaphysics is understood as a dualism, radically distinguishing the thinking substance and the extended substance, therefore the mind and the body. The aim of my thesis is to reverse such are presentation by the grace of the consideration of correspondence with Elisabeth. She shows that his conception of mind-body relations is more complex than is often thought, and also shows how his philosophy succeeds in ensuring the compatibility between his metaphysics, his natural philosophy and his practical philosophy. Cartesian thought is thus addressed to a human being, not only in their metaphysical reflection, but also in their experience of life