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 247
... SOUL IS You say , " What is soul ? " " What did I under- stand by the soul ? " And here is your reply . Either I did not perceive what this was or I imagined it to be something extremely rare like a wind , a flame , or an ether , which ...
... SOUL IS You say , " What is soul ? " " What did I under- stand by the soul ? " And here is your reply . Either I did not perceive what this was or I imagined it to be something extremely rare like a wind , a flame , or an ether , which ...
Page 248
... soul ? " as you yourself replied before : The soul is something corporeal , of a fine structure and subtle , spread throughout the external body , and the principle of all sensation , imagination , and thought . Thus there are three ...
... soul ? " as you yourself replied before : The soul is something corporeal , of a fine structure and subtle , spread throughout the external body , and the principle of all sensation , imagination , and thought . Thus there are three ...
Page 253
... soul , nor body , in a word , nothing exists . Therefore if I am , as I am , I am not a mind . " Now here is the flaw , which the sequel will show you plainly . Meanwhile , bethink your- self as to whether it is better to derive the ...
... soul , nor body , in a word , nothing exists . Therefore if I am , as I am , I am not a mind . " Now here is the flaw , which the sequel will show you plainly . Meanwhile , bethink your- self as to whether it is better to derive the ...
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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