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 25
... matter of deducing some one fact from a single simple matter ( we have already said that we can do this without the help of rules ) , but of disentangling so skilfully some one fact that is conditioned by a number of others which all ...
... matter of deducing some one fact from a single simple matter ( we have already said that we can do this without the help of rules ) , but of disentangling so skilfully some one fact that is conditioned by a number of others which all ...
Page 55
... matter sufficient wherewith to form it , and if He agitated in diverse ways , and without any order , the diverse portions of this matter , so that there resulted a chaos as confused as the poets ever feigned , and con- cluded His work ...
... matter sufficient wherewith to form it , and if He agitated in diverse ways , and without any order , the diverse portions of this matter , so that there resulted a chaos as confused as the poets ever feigned , and con- cluded His work ...
Page 209
... matter , etc .; you object ; if you are ignorant , if you do not dispute the matter , why do you assume that you are none of those things ? 1 But here it is false that I have assumed something of which I was ignorant ; for plainly , on ...
... matter , etc .; you object ; if you are ignorant , if you do not dispute the matter , why do you assume that you are none of those things ? 1 But here it is false that I have assumed something of which I was ignorant ; for plainly , on ...
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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