Should we, as human beings, think of ourselves as made out of two different substances, like Decartes argued? Or are you persuaded by the arguments of physicalism that we are purely physical beings? If you agree with Descartes, how would you explain the fact that our mental life seems to be very closely connected to a physical organ, namely the brain. If you agree with physicalism, how do you explain the fact that our mental life seems to be like nothing else in the physical world (think of how unique something like consciousness is, for example).

I agree with Descartes. I think of myself made of two different substances.  I believe we have a body and a mind.  I think they are two different things but they work together to function.  I think that our mental life is closely connected to our brain because our mind uses our brain to react with the physical world.  Like we think, and we act on it using our brain which then applies it to our body. For example, I think and wish about taking a trip. I use my brain to figure out how I can take this trip. Whether it be saving money up to take this trip or going to a travel agency. My mind takes action by using my brain as a tool to get what I want done. It signals the brain to let me walk to the travel agency and book the tickets.  Then the brain alerts my body to do the action. We think and it can become. It’s amazing! I mean if we were simply physical beings as physicalist suggest, wouldn’t we all go about things the same way? I feel like we would all function like robots.