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
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Page ix
... possible. Preparation of the final production copy took place while on a most enjoyable NEH appointment at Potsdam College of SUNY; I thank all who had a hand in bring- ing about that visit, particularly Joseph DiGiovanna and Philip ...
... possible. Preparation of the final production copy took place while on a most enjoyable NEH appointment at Potsdam College of SUNY; I thank all who had a hand in bring- ing about that visit, particularly Joseph DiGiovanna and Philip ...
Page x
... possible and pleasant for me to work there. I am grateful also to Ivy Arbulú, who has known this book from its inception, nurtured its development, and lived with the pains of its delivery. I should finally mention that parts of ...
... possible and pleasant for me to work there. I am grateful also to Ivy Arbulú, who has known this book from its inception, nurtured its development, and lived with the pains of its delivery. I should finally mention that parts of ...
Page 2
... possible essences, and the Divine underpinnings of necessity in nature. When Descartes put forward his innovative doctrine of ideas, he cast it in the terminology of the School. Already in the Rules for the Direction of the Mind, he was ...
... possible essences, and the Divine underpinnings of necessity in nature. When Descartes put forward his innovative doctrine of ideas, he cast it in the terminology of the School. Already in the Rules for the Direction of the Mind, he was ...
Page 8
... possible that S knows that A exists and that S does not know that A is essentially F.8 The independence of knowledge of essence . It is possible that S knows that A is essentially F and that S does not know that A exists ...
... possible that S knows that A exists and that S does not know that A is essentially F.8 The independence of knowledge of essence . It is possible that S knows that A is essentially F and that S does not know that A exists ...
Page 9
... possible that S knows that A exists and that S does not know that A is essentially F. Descartes was an essentialist: he expressly accepted the essentialist doctrine. The texts quoted earlier establish beyond dispute that Descartes held ...
... possible that S knows that A exists and that S does not know that A is essentially F. Descartes was an essentialist: he expressly accepted the essentialist doctrine. The texts quoted earlier establish beyond dispute that Descartes held ...
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