Which statement best reflects a dualistic view of mind and body?

• A. The mind and body are linked as a single entity
• B. The mind and body are distinct
• C. The mind and body are identical
• D. The mind governs the body completely

Answer: (B)

Dualism holds that there are two kinds of substance: the mental and the physical. The mind is a non-physical, thinking entity, while the body is physical and extended in space. They are separate and not reducible to one another, though they can interact. That is why the statement that the mind and body are distinct best captures a dualistic view.

If they were linked as a single entity, that would fit a holistic or monistic view. If they were identical, that would be a stronger form of monism where mind and body are the same thing. Saying the mind governs the body completely implies sole mind-based control, which isn’t how traditional dualism is typically framed, since dualists also acknowledge the body’s distinct, causal role.