Descartesí Problem
Descartes is exploring the differences between animals and humans and asking what it is that separates humans from animals.
Although he observes many similarities, his goal is to show that humans and animals are fundamentally different.
His strategy is to compare animals and humans to machines.
He will argue that there is no difference between animals and machines, but that humans and machines do differ.
Since animal = machine, but humans _ machines, humans _ animals
He begins with the observation (ß56) that his medical and philosophical investigations reveal that the body shares many of the properties of machines.
He is impressed by the explanation of how movement and action are possible.
He was able to show that it is the arrangement of muscles and the skeleton that control movement.
Muscle action is initiated by ëanimal spiritsí, i.e.. nerve firing.
The muscle and skeleton arrangement is analogous to lever and pulleys.