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 52
... perfect ( for I saw clearly that it was a greater perfection to know than to doubt ) , I resolved to inquire whence I had learnt to think of anything more perfect than I myself was ; and I recognised very clearly that this conception ...
... perfect ( for I saw clearly that it was a greater perfection to know than to doubt ) , I resolved to inquire whence I had learnt to think of anything more perfect than I myself was ; and I recognised very clearly that this conception ...
Page 90
... perfect of its kind , that is , which is wanting in some perfection due to it . For if it is true that the more skilful the artizan , the more perfect is the work of his hands , what can have been produced by this supreme Creator of all ...
... perfect of its kind , that is , which is wanting in some perfection due to it . For if it is true that the more skilful the artizan , the more perfect is the work of his hands , what can have been produced by this supreme Creator of all ...
Page 187
... perfect than you or than your body ; it is more perfect only than that emptiness which exists in your stomach . How then do you gather that there is something more perfect than you ? It is viz . in so far as you behold the totality of ...
... perfect than you or than your body ; it is more perfect only than that emptiness which exists in your stomach . How then do you gather that there is something more perfect than you ? It is viz . in so far as you behold the totality of ...
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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