Res extensa as category mistake

Abstract

The main goal of this essay is to approach Cartesian dualism from the philosophy of Bruno Latour. Instead offering a dissolution of the Mind/Body dichotomy which undermines the former in benefit of the latter, a complication of both terms is proposed. Thus, the well-known critiques of the res cogitans will be complemented with a deep deconstruction of the res extensa. This argument, despite its metaphysical tone, entails some practical consequences for social sciences in general and psychology in particular. After exposing the intermittent interference of Cartesian dualism in psychology throughout the 20th century, it is argued that non-mentalistic projects have been only partially successful precisely because they have left untouched the material counterpart of the Mind/Body dichotomy. Only from a detailed review of Latour’s work it could be understood how this parallel reformulation of mind and matter lead to an ontological pluralism, which, in turn, oscillates between destroying modern psychology and opening new inquiry paths.