Cartesian Metaphysics: The Scholastic Origins of Modern PhilosophyThis is the first book-length study of Descartes's metaphysics to place it in its immediate historical context, the Late Scholastic philosophy of thinkers such as Suárez against which Descartes reacted. Jorge Secada views Cartesian philosophy as an 'essentialist' reply to the 'existentialism' of the School, and his discussion includes careful analyses and original interpretations of such central Cartesian themes as the role of scepticism, intentionality and the doctrine of the material falsity of ideas, universals and the relation between sense and understanding, causation and the proofs of the existence of God, the theory of substance, and the dualism of mind and matter. His study offers a picture of Descartes's metaphysics that is both novel and philosophically illuminating. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 58
Page i
... material falsity of ideas, universals and the relation between sense and understanding, causation and the proofs of the existence of God, the theory of substance, and the dualism of mind and matter. His study offers a picture of ...
... material falsity of ideas, universals and the relation between sense and understanding, causation and the proofs of the existence of God, the theory of substance, and the dualism of mind and matter. His study offers a picture of ...
Page 10
... material substance. The rationale of Scholastic existentialism Descartes did not want to claim merely that to know that something exists one must have some answer, however general, to the question 'what is it that exists?' St Thomas ...
... material substance. The rationale of Scholastic existentialism Descartes did not want to claim merely that to know that something exists one must have some answer, however general, to the question 'what is it that exists?' St Thomas ...
Page 15
... material and efficient causes (TPA, II, 2; II, p. 415a). For example, if food is something required for the sustenance of life, then from the existence of living animals we can demonstrate that there is food. The middle term need not ...
... material and efficient causes (TPA, II, 2; II, p. 415a). For example, if food is something required for the sustenance of life, then from the existence of living animals we can demonstrate that there is food. The middle term need not ...
Page 17
... material properties which are causally linked to the sensory acts need not be like the properties, existing within the mind, which these acts apprehend, nor these properties like those which the mind thereby comes to know are in the ...
... material properties which are causally linked to the sensory acts need not be like the properties, existing within the mind, which these acts apprehend, nor these properties like those which the mind thereby comes to know are in the ...
Page 20
... material substance through an argument that involves reference to God's existence and nature, to the natural inclinations of the self, and to sensory perceptions. This procedure clearly satisfies the essentialist independence thesis: at ...
... material substance through an argument that involves reference to God's existence and nature, to the natural inclinations of the self, and to sensory perceptions. This procedure clearly satisfies the essentialist independence thesis: at ...
Contents
1 | |
5 | |
Part II Ideas and the road from essence to existence | 75 |
Part III Cartesian substances | 181 |
Epilogue | 265 |
Notes | 270 |
References | 307 |
Index | 323 |
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Cartesian Metaphysics: The Scholastic Origins of Modern Philosophy Jorge Secada Limited preview - 2000 |
Common terms and phrases
According to Descartes actual apprehension Aquinas argued Aristotelian Aristotle Arnauld attribute awareness body Cartesian causal chapter claim clear and distinct clearly and distinctly colour conceived conception corporeal substance creatures dependence Descartes's determinable direct realist distinguished divine doctrine Duns Scotus effect efficient cause entity essence and existence essential definitions essentialist exist in reality existentialism existentialist explained extension external fact follows Fonseca formally Gassendi God’s grasp Hobbes human idea imagination immediate objects independent individual infinite infinite regress innate intellect intelligible Jesuit judgement knowledge Late Scholastic Leibniz matter metaphysics mind modes nature Nominalists notion objective reality ontological argument perceive philosophy possible Posterior Analytics predicate principle prior proof question real distinction real essences real properties refer relation Replies sceptical Scholasticism Second Meditation sensation sense sensory perception shape soul species St Thomas Suárez substantial suppose Third Meditation Thomist thought triangle true truth understanding unity universal