RENE DESCARTES (1596-1650)
"It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use
it well." Discourse on Method
"If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things." Principles of Philosophy
I. BACKGROUND
1. Aristotle & Scholastic Synthesis
2. New events & Discoveries
3. Doubts about Aristotle
4. Humanism
5. Sophistication in Mathematics
6. General Skepticism
II. QUESTIONS
1. What is there? Organic unity of Aristotle? Basic units?
2. How do we know what there is?
3. What is knowledge? Marks of certainty?
4. Role of commonsense & new technology?
III. DESCARTES
1. "Founder/Father of Modern Philosophy"
2. Renaissance & Science
3. Reconciling Science with Philosophy & Theology
4. Reconciling Physical explanation (MECHANISM) with free will
5. Start with Commonsense Theism
IV. WORKS
1. Subjects: Mathematics, Experimental Science, Philosophy
2. Methods: Reasoning, Observation, Experimentation
3. Discourse on Method (1637)
4. Meditations on First Philosophy (1640)
5. Principles of Philosophy (1644)
V. POSITION
1. The problems with Philosophy
2. The Indubitable Method
3. Modern Dualism
4. MEDITATIONS:
i. Seeking firm foundation for knowledge
MEDITATION #1:
i. Introspection
ii. Methodical Doubt
iii. Senses, Sleeping, Math, Evil genius
MEDITATION #2:
i. Certainty of self--"I am, I exist"
ii. Performative contradiction
iii. "Cogito ergo sum"
iv. Bodies & wax
v. Clarity & Distinctness
MEDITATION #3:
i. Getting out of self
ii. 1st try--origin of ideas
iii. 2nd try--content of ideas
iv. Intuitive principles
v. God's existence--Proof #1
vi. God's existence--Proof #2
MEDITATION #4:
i. Existence of other things
ii. Truth & Falsity
iii. The will
iv. Cause of error
MEDITATION #5:
i. Material things
ii. God's existence--Proof #3
iii. Innate Ideas, God, Truth
MEDITATION #6:
i. Material things
ii. Distinction of Mind & Body
iii. Plan of Meditations
iv. God & Material things
v. View of HUMAN PERSON
vi. Advice for seeking truth & certainty
LINKS TO HIS TEXT: