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 142
... angles of a triangle are together all equal to two right angles , and have given this other name to the triangle - possessed of three angles equal to two right angles - although there were no angle at all in existence , yet the name ...
... angles of a triangle are together all equal to two right angles , and have given this other name to the triangle - possessed of three angles equal to two right angles - although there were no angle at all in existence , yet the name ...
Page 150
... angles to two right angles is involved in that of a triangle . Therefore , just as the reply to the question why the triangle has its three angles equal to two right angles should not be in terms of an efficient cause , but the reason ...
... angles to two right angles is involved in that of a triangle . Therefore , just as the reply to the question why the triangle has its three angles equal to two right angles should not be in terms of an efficient cause , but the reason ...
Page 199
... angles distinctly and severally , then , you say , you imagine . And hence , since you indeed perceive without any trouble that the chilia- gon is a figure with a thousand angles , but yet cannot by application or an effort of attention ...
... angles distinctly and severally , then , you say , you imagine . And hence , since you indeed perceive without any trouble that the chilia- gon is a figure with a thousand angles , but yet cannot by application or an effort of attention ...
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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