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 70
... evident to everybody that they are veritable demonstrations . And , finally , inasmuch as it was desired that I should undertake this task by many who were aware that I had cultivated a certain Method for the resolution of difficul ...
... evident to everybody that they are veritable demonstrations . And , finally , inasmuch as it was desired that I should undertake this task by many who were aware that I had cultivated a certain Method for the resolution of difficul ...
Page 131
... evident to them than the fact that number two is even and number three odd , and similar truths . For there are certain truths evident to some people , without proof , that can be made in- telligible to others only by a train of ...
... evident to them than the fact that number two is even and number three odd , and similar truths . For there are certain truths evident to some people , without proof , that can be made in- telligible to others only by a train of ...
Page 141
... evident and I cannot make out why it is said to be contradictory to previous statements . But though there are many who , looking to the Divine foreordination , cannot conceive how that is compatible with liberty on our part ...
... evident and I cannot make out why it is said to be contradictory to previous statements . But though there are many who , looking to the Divine foreordination , cannot conceive how that is compatible with liberty on our part ...
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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