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 366
... determined to action in a certain manner ( Prop . 27 ) . But God is the cause of these modes , not only in so far as they simply exist ( Corol . Prop . 24 ) , but also ( Prop . 26 ) in so far as they are considered as determined to any ...
... determined to action in a certain manner ( Prop . 27 ) . But God is the cause of these modes , not only in so far as they simply exist ( Corol . Prop . 24 ) , but also ( Prop . 26 ) in so far as they are considered as determined to any ...
Page 367
... determined to action unless it be determined by another cause , and this again by another , and so on ad infinitum . And if the will be supposed infinite , it must be determined to existence and action by God , not in so far as He is ...
... determined to action unless it be determined by another cause , and this again by another , and so on ad infinitum . And if the will be supposed infinite , it must be determined to existence and action by God , not in so far as He is ...
Page 385
... determined to existence and action by causes which also are determined by others to existence and action in a certain and determinate manner , whilst these , again , are determined by others , and so on ad infinitum . The duration ...
... determined to existence and action by causes which also are determined by others to existence and action in a certain and determinate manner , whilst these , again , are determined by others , and so on ad infinitum . The duration ...
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Common terms and phrases
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