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 18
... discover the three means between the first and the fifth . The reason why this is not so is due to a fresh fact ; viz . even though here four mental acts come together they can yet be disjoined , since four can be di- vided by another ...
... discover the three means between the first and the fifth . The reason why this is not so is due to a fresh fact ; viz . even though here four mental acts come together they can yet be disjoined , since four can be di- vided by another ...
Page 93
... discover an infinitude of particulars respecting numbers , figures , move- ments , and other such things , whose truth is so manifest , and so well accords with my nature , that when I begin to discover them , it seems to me that I ...
... discover an infinitude of particulars respecting numbers , figures , move- ments , and other such things , whose truth is so manifest , and so well accords with my nature , that when I begin to discover them , it seems to me that I ...
Page 257
... discover merely what it then seemed to me I had formerly thought . And when I said that I thought , I did not inquire whether I was awake or asleep when I thought . I am surprised that he calls my method a Meth- od of Dreaming when it ...
... discover merely what it then seemed to me I had formerly thought . And when I said that I thought , I did not inquire whether I was awake or asleep when I thought . I am surprised that he calls my method a Meth- od of Dreaming when it ...
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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