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 459
... mind is adapted to understand things by the third kind of knowl- edge , the more it desires to understand them by this kind of knowledge . Demonst . This is evident ; for in so far as we conceive the mind to be adapted to under- stand ...
... mind is adapted to understand things by the third kind of knowl- edge , the more it desires to understand them by this kind of knowledge . Demonst . This is evident ; for in so far as we conceive the mind to be adapted to under- stand ...
Page 460
... mind conceives nothing under the form of eternity , unless in so far as it con- ceives the essence of its body under ... mind is eternal it has a knowledge of God , which is necessarily adequate ( Prop . 46 , pt . 2 ) , and therefore in ...
... mind conceives nothing under the form of eternity , unless in so far as it con- ceives the essence of its body under ... mind is eternal it has a knowledge of God , which is necessarily adequate ( Prop . 46 , pt . 2 ) , and therefore in ...
Page 462
... mind to be of such a nature that that part of it which we have shown perishes with its body ( Prop . 21 , pt . 5 ) , in comparison with the part of it which remains , is of no consequence . But more fully upon this subject presently ...
... mind to be of such a nature that that part of it which we have shown perishes with its body ( Prop . 21 , pt . 5 ) , in comparison with the part of it which remains , is of no consequence . But more fully upon this subject presently ...
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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