How Does Private Language Bear on the Cartesian Theory of Mind?
Journal of Cultural and Religious Studies January 18, 2026 Yi Zhang
The private language argument, central to Wittgenstein's later philosophy, challenges the Cartesian view of mind and body as distinct and independent substances. This article argues that the mind should instead be understood as the root of the body, rejecting Cartesian dualism. By examining the implications of the private language argument for the Cartesian theory of mind, the author contends that the mind and body are not separate entities. The argument draws on the paradigm of sensation to show that a private language—one that only the speaker can understand—is incoherent, thereby undermining the Cartesian project of establishing the existence of God through first philosophy.