Final answer:
The mind-body problem is a philosophical question about the relationship between the mind and body.
Step-by-step explanation:
Detailed Answer:
The mind-body problem refers to the philosophical question of how the mind and body are related and whether they are distinct entities or two aspects of the same entity. It is a problem because it raises fundamental questions about the nature of consciousness, identity, and the relationship between mental and physical processes.
Descartes' dualism is one attempt to solve the mind-body problem. He proposed that the mind and body are separate substances, with the mind being non-physical and the body being physical. He argued this based on the idea that one can doubt the existence of the physical body but not the existence of the mind, as demonstrated by his famous statement 'I think, therefore I am.'
However, Descartes' dualism faces several criticisms. One major criticism is the problem of interaction, which questions how a non-physical mind can interact with a physical body. Critics argue that this interaction is difficult to explain within Descartes' framework. Additionally, scientific advancements in neuroscience and psychology have provided evidence of the close relationship between mental and physical processes, challenging the idea of a strict mind-body separation.