Many processes in the brain functioned essentially mechanically, according to Descartes, but what truly governed our behavior, what made humans different from animals, what made reason and choice possible, was __________.
A) language
B) the ego
C) intelligence
D) the soul

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Descartes believed that the soul, which he saw as separate from the material body, was responsible for reasoning, consciousness, and free will. In his view, animals lacked souls and were therefore incapable of these higher-level cognitive functions.

Many Processes in the Brain Functioned Essentially Mechanically, According to Descartes