Descartes

Descartes

This study is an introduction to the best-known themes of Descartes's philosophy.

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Inhaltsangabe

Preface.
Abbreviations.
1. Descartes' Life and Times:
Descartes' Generation: 'Science' and 'Philosophy' in the Seventeenth Century.
Scholasticism.
Descartes' Early Years.
Descartes' Later Years: The Major Publications.
2. The Cartesian Method:
Knowledge and Intuition.
The Role of Doubt in Descartes' Philosophy.
First Principles.
3. From Self to God to Knowledge of the World:
The Trademark Argument.
Coda: The Trademark Argument, Second Version.
The Ontological Argument.
The Avoidance of Error.
The Cartesian Circle.
The Role of God.
4. The Material Universe:
Our Knowledge of the World: The Intellect and the Senses.
Extended Substance.
Science, Mathematics and Mechanical Models.
Science and Religion.
5. Cartesian Man:
Men, Machines and Animals.
Res Cogitans.
Cartesian Dualism and its Problems.
Sensation and Imagination.
Cartesian 'Trialism'.
6. The Human Condition:
Our Perception of the World and What it is Really Like.
Innate Ideas.
Freedom and Reason.
The Good Life.
Appendix: Descartes' Dreams.
References.
Index.