Rules for the Direction of the Mind: Discourse on the Method : Meditations on First Philosophy : Objections Against the Meditations and Replies : The GeometryIs it possible to be certain of anything? If so, how? The father of modern philosophy and the founder of rational method in philosophical thought, René Descartes (1596-1650) sought the answers to these questions and in doing so, addressed the most important of methods of thinking and understanding truth. In Discourse on Method, he applies a scientific approach to philosophy that comprises four principles: to accept only what reason recognizes as "clear and distinct"; to analyze complex ideas by dividing them into smaller elements; to reconstruct the ideas; and to make accurate and complete enumerations of the data. His Meditations proceed according to this method, exploring the mind/body distinction, the nature of truth and error, the existence of God, and the essence of material things. |
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Page 134
... hence the images present to us when we are awake and using our senses are not accidents inhering in external objects , and fail to prove that such ex- ternal objects do as a fact exist . And therefore , if we follow our senses without ...
... hence the images present to us when we are awake and using our senses are not accidents inhering in external objects , and fail to prove that such ex- ternal objects do as a fact exist . And therefore , if we follow our senses without ...
Page 146
... hence I am a thing that thinks and not a body , and the body does not pertain to the knowledge of myself . But the only result that I can see this to give , is that a certain knowledge of myself be obtained without a knowledge of the ...
... hence I am a thing that thinks and not a body , and the body does not pertain to the knowledge of myself . But the only result that I can see this to give , is that a certain knowledge of myself be obtained without a knowledge of the ...
Page 149
... hence there is a mutual relation between cause and effect . But a mutual relation can be possessed only by two things . Again , it is merely absurd to conceive of a thing as receiving existence and yet possessing that very existence ...
... hence there is a mutual relation between cause and effect . But a mutual relation can be possessed only by two things . Again , it is merely absurd to conceive of a thing as receiving existence and yet possessing that very existence ...
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¹Cf able absolutely infinite action affect affirm angles argument attribute believe called ceived certainly chiliagon clear and distinct clearly and distinctly conceived conic sections consequently consider contrary corporeal curve deceived Demonst deny Descartes desire determined dioptrics Discourse on Method discover doubt dream easily efficient cause endeavour equal equation error essence everything evil existence existence of God explained external body fact faculty false fear finite follows formal cause given greater hatred Hence human body human mind hyperbola idea imagine infinite intellect judge judgment knowledge latus rectum less lines matter means Meditation merely method mode motion nature necessarily never nevertheless object opinions parabola perceive perfect philosophy possess proposition prove Q.E.D. Corol Q.E.D. PROP Q.E.D. Schol reality reason reply say Prop scholium sense sorrow soul substance syllogism tain term thinking thing thought tion triangle true truth understand unless words