Dualism & Physicalism...

Should we, as human beings, think of ourselves as made out of two different substances, like Decartes argued? Or are you persuaded by the arguments of physicalism that we are purely physical beings? If  you agree with Descartes, how would you explain the fact that our mental life seems to be very closely connected to a physical organ, namely the brain. If you agree with physicalism, how do you explain the fact that our mental life seems to be like nothing else in the physical world (think of how unique something like consciousness is, for example). Write your thoughts on these issues. I think i would agree to Descartes' arguement. Somehow our mental and physical actions are connected sometimes we do things out of consiousness, our minds are connected to our body, and sometimes our brain tells us what our actions should be but there are times we go on the other direction. Between physical and mental qualities, theres always a direct contact to where our actions are coming from. Descartes was the first to identify the mind with consiousness and self-awareness and to distinguish this from the brain. Within the things we do we have actions that just done by our own mind, its like the brain is working on its own and then all of a sudden we stop and say "what am i doing?" we have actions that we are aware of, thats our mind and body connected, thats when we actually communicate with our brain, and work together.