Re cognitas is consciousness and mind while res extensa is matter or extension. Decartes distinguished between what was thought in the mind through reflection and other thoughts. This means that consciousness in a sense is not a natural phenomenon but is rather dependant on the physical surroundings which make up our inner selves and beings. This is also reflected in the inner state of consciousness of the human being which cannot be always cognizant with that which surrounds us and which makes us part of this world.
Nothwitstanding all this, I tend to agree that every thought which comes from the mind is intrinsically based on the appropriate functions of the mind. One can also reflect on this issue as Decartes continually argues that the heart has the rule over the mind and all this is reflected accordingly in what may seem to be a departure from the natural consciousness of the being and the person.
Decartes also argues that consciousness cannot only be static but is always on the move and is transformed accordingly through intrinsic human thought. This can be reflected when for example one person reflects on a relationship and observes where things went wrong. One can argue that everything went wrong due to the fact that life is constantly in a state of flux and one cannot be always at peace with his/her inner consciousness. One feels transformed as life begins to change for the better yet the experiences of the past are always reflective and assiduous.
Life is continuously on the move as already argued but one has to face facts sometimes and confront the issues head on if these are to be tackled and a proper conclusion is to be made out of everything. Decartes is very clear about the extension issue as consciousness cannot always be in a state of flux as life is continuously different and on the move.
When one argues about matter, Decartes also reigns supreme as his main argument was that matter was simply in a state of flux and nothing could really begin to change that. Obviously the universe is made up of something but Decartes was continuously convinced that white light was actually the purest form of matter and that this could not change for other issues.
As a conclusion, I would argue that although consciousness is important, it is also crucial that one is convinced on the issue of matter to be able to arrive at a logical conclusion after all this discord and innate mess which permeates the world. Decartes strived to arrive at what he termed as perfection of matter and that the extension of consciousness could be arrived at after a series of logical movement. However this cannot always be the case as one has to continue insisting that art is also part of the state of mind and when one appreciates art he/she is delving into the inner consciousness of one’s being. Decartes was obviously right on this, but several may argue differently and life cannot always be compartmentalized into what one may term a ‘box’ of sorts. The argument by Decartes holds true even today centuries after it was first made and one can only admire the forward thinking of this great philosopher.
References:
Bell, E. T. "Gentleman, Soldier, and Mathematician: Descartes." Ch. 3 in Men of Mathematics: The Lives and Achievements of the Great Mathematicians from Zeno to Poincaré. New York: Simon and Schuster, pp. 35-55, 1986.
Sabra, A. I. Theories of Light: From Descartes to Newton. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1981.
Carriero, John (2008). Bewtween Two Worlds. Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691135618.
