What is Dualistic Interactionism?

Question

I am learning a philosophy theory called "Dualistic Interactionism".
I understand that it is trying to state:
1) we have a body (physical)
2) we have a mind (non-physical)
3) Mind and body are two separate entities.
4) Body and Mind interacts with each other.

I have no problem accepting point 1 and 2.
But how do they justify point 3? Why is mind and body separate? How do they argue for it?

And for point 4, how do they solve the problem about "how the mind (non-physical) interacts with the body/brain (physical)?". In other words, how does something non-physical interact with something physical, or vice versa?

I know I asked a bunch of questions, but please enlighten me about this subject with answers to any 1 of those questions. Thanks.

Answer 1

Dualism upholds that man, highest creation of the universe, is made of two absolute substances totally independent from each other. One of these substances is the body, physical in nature and the other is the mind which is rational, non-physical, and immortal in nature. The mind both in Psychology and Philosophy is also the soul or the intellect.

You're right both your theses no.3 and 4 may be hard to trully conceivably accept.

But there is an underlying reason,a determining principle that is trully logical and sensible as far as our human intelligence can comprehend such.

We already know that body is physical in nature, it is created through conception and gets destroyed through death and gradually becomes dust- cremation of a dead body is perfect example to see our body does turn into dust.
Meanwhile, the mind is also the soul or the intellect,immortal in nature. If it is immortal, it did exist before life and continues to exist after death.
Dualism works stressing the two-fold nature of the universe making these two substances totally independent of each other.
These two substances moved about and fixated accordingly on the mechanical laws of the universe. A scientist could busy himself on the study of nature without having to worry about the mind. A scientist can develop theories without having to make room for purposes, goals, and reasons -characteristics of such is that of the mind.
The brain is physically connected with the body, it grasps, absorbs, and learns vast array of information and data and able to give the body a light of experience on such information through our senses. What is the point of all this if there is no ability to reason out the goals and purposes of such knowledge in perfect parallel to the underlying truth and reality? reasons of which are beyond the ability of both brain and senses to elaborate? Here then, comes the mind to absolve and internalize specifically the explanations of the reasons of the knowledge we learned. Mind is the intellect as the soul.

Answer 2

I do have a problem with point 2), as it is impossible (for me) to distinguish mind from body. There is a major epistimological question here, as how are we to distinguish the two?

If 2) is doubtful, then so are 3 and 4, so if you cannot support a mind/body division, the whole system collapses. Sorry, but most systems do.