Final answer:
Descartes and Plato philosophized about the mind, with Descartes arguing for substance dualism, where the mind is distinct from the body, and Plato suggesting the soul's independence and immortality. Modern science, however, challenges the separation of mind and body as thought processes are closely associated with the physical brain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The philosophers Rene Descartes and Plato both philosophized on the nature of the mind. Descartes used logic to argue that the mind is distinct from the body and that knowledge is innate or a priori (present from birth). According to Descartes, we are fundamentally thinking beings, as encapsulated in his famous statement, 'Cogito, ergo sum' (I think, therefore I am). This reflects his substance dualism philosophy, which suggests that reality consists of two fundamental substances: the material and the spiritual or non-physical. On the other hand, Plato believed that the soul existed apart from the body and was immortal, offering various arguments for this in his dialogue the Phaedo, though these arguments are not seen as persuasive in modern times.
Materialism and idealism offer contrasting views to dualism. Materialism contends that only the material or physical substance exists, and there is no spiritual entity. Idealism asserts the reverse, that only the spiritual substance exists, with no matter. It is important to note that modern science has challenged Descartes' dualism by illustrating that thought and consciousness seem inexorably linked to the physical brain, suggesting that Descartes' non-physical realm of the mind may not be a separate entity.