Interactionism

Interactionism, in Cartesian philosophy and tbe philosophy of mind, those dualistic tbeories that hold that mind and body, though separate and distinct substances, causally interact. Interactionists assert that a mental event, as when John Doe wills to kick a brick wall, can be tbe cause of a physical action, his leg and foot moving into tbe wall. Conversely, tbe physical event of his foot hitting tbe wall can be tbe cause of tbe mental event of his feeling a sharp pain.