DesCartes Error

1. Overview

The "Descartes Error" (also referred to as "Descartes' Error") is a concept popularized by neuroscientist Antonio Damasio in his book of the same name.
It refers to the traditional separation of mind (or consciousness, reason) and body (or physical matter, emotions) particularly attributed to René Descartes' philosophy, especially his "Cartesian Dualism."
Damasio argues that this separation is fundamentally flawed, as emotions and the body play a critical role in reason, decision-making, and consciousness.
Neurological evidence from patients with damage to the prefrontal cortex, which impairs emotional processing, demonstrates that reasoning and decision-making are also significantly affected. These individuals often struggle to make rational choices in their personal lives, despite maintaining normal intellectual abilities.
Damasio proposes that emotions are not separate from reason but are integral to it, acting as somatic markers that guide our choices and behaviors. Somatic markers are physiological responses (e.g., gut feelings, heart rate changes) that are associated with past experiences and help us to quickly evaluate the potential outcomes of different options.
The error, therefore, lies in assuming that the mind can operate independently of the body and emotions.
Modern neuroscience increasingly emphasizes the embodied and embedded nature of cognition, supporting Damasio's critique of Cartesian dualism.