Descartes’ Baby and Natural Dualism ()
ABSTRACT
The clash between science
and the doctrine of the soul is not dead, as Yale psychologist Paul Bloom demonstrates in his fascinating study, Descartes’ Baby: How the Science of Child
Development Explains What Makes Us Human. New research on
babies’ “looking time” suggests that they view the world in terms of two kinds
of things—“bodies and souls”. They are “natural dualists”, not because of religion or philosophy, but because
of babies’ disposition to observe differences in the way objects and people
behave. Nevertheless, Bloom observes that natural dualism is out of step with
modern science. Does this mean that babies start life with a skewed view of
reality? Not necessarily, I argue. While babies see people as souls, there is
no evidence whatever that they see them as souls separate from their bodies.
In my paper, I discuss and critique the highlights of Bloom’s
position, point out some of the pitfalls in philosophical arguments for natural
dualism, and propose a defense of the soul as a secular, not just a religious,
concept. As Bloom suggests, naturalists do not need to feel embarrassed to
refer to the human soul.
Share and Cite:
Andre, S. (2022) Descartes’ Baby and Natural Dualism.
Open Journal of Philosophy,
12, 214-232. doi:
10.4236/ojpp.2022.122014.
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