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
... fact that , by reflecting on the mutual dependence of two propositions , we ac- quire the habit of distinguishing at a glance what is more or less relative , and what the steps are by which a relative fact is related to something ...
... fact that , by reflecting on the mutual dependence of two propositions , we ac- quire the habit of distinguishing at a glance what is more or less relative , and what the steps are by which a relative fact is related to something ...
Page 153
... fact that one thing is conceived apart from another by means of the abstracting action of the mind when it conceives a thing in- adequately , but only from the fact that each of them is comprehended apart from the other in a complete ...
... fact that one thing is conceived apart from another by means of the abstracting action of the mind when it conceives a thing in- adequately , but only from the fact that each of them is comprehended apart from the other in a complete ...
Page 162
... fact ; but afterwards it is enough for us to remember that we have perceived something clearly , in order to be sure that it is true ; but this would not suffice , unless we knew that God existed and that he did not deceive us . 2 The fact ...
... fact ; but afterwards it is enough for us to remember that we have perceived something clearly , in order to be sure that it is true ; but this would not suffice , unless we knew that God existed and that he did not deceive us . 2 The fact ...
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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