Descartes

René Descartes (1596–1650) is well-known for his introspective turn away from sensible bodies and toward non-sensory ideas of mind, body, and God. Such a turn is appropriate, Descartes supposes, but only once in the course of life, and only to arrive at a more accurate picture of reality that we then incorporate in everyday embodied life. In this clear and engaging book David Cunning introduces and examines the full range of Descartes’ philosophy. A central focus of the book is Descartes’ view that embodied human beings become more perfect to the degree that they move in the direction of finite approximations of independence, activity, immutability, and increased knowledge. Beginning with an introduction and a chapter on Descartes’ life and works, Cunning also addresses the following key topics: * Descartes on the wonders of the material universe * skepticism as epistemic garbage, and the easy dissolution of hyperbolic doubt * Descartes’ three arguments for the existence of God * the ontology of possibility and necessity * freedom and embodiment * arguments for the immateriality of mind * sensible bodies and the pragmatic certainty by which to navigate them * Descartes’ stoic view on how best to live. __Descartes__ is an outstanding introduction to one of the greatest of Western philosophers. Including a chronology, suggestions for further reading, and a glossary of key terms, it is essential reading for anyone studying Descartes and the history of modern philosophy. "René Descartes (1596-1650) is well-known for his introspective turn away from sensible bodies and toward non-sensory ideas of mind, body, and God. Such a turn is appropriate, Descartes supposes, but only once in the course of life, and only to arrive at a more accurate picture of reality that we then incorporate in everyday embodied life. In this clear and engaging book David Cunning introduces and examines the full range of Descartes' philosophy. A central focus of the book is Descartes' view that embodied human beings become more perfect to the degree that they move in the direction of finite approximations of independence, activity, immutability, and increased knowledge. Beginning with an introduction and a chapter on Descartes' life and works, Cunning also addresses the following key topics: Descartes on the wonders of the material universe skepticism as epistemic garbage, and the easy dissolution of hyperbolic doubt Descartes' three arguments for the existence of God the ontology of possibility and necessity freedom and embodiment arguments for the immateriality of mind sensible bodies and the pragmatic certainty by which to navigate them Descartes' stoic view on how best to live. Descartes is an outstanding introduction to one of the greatest of Western philosophers. Including a chronology, suggestions for further reading, and a glossary of key terms, it is essential reading for anyone studying Descartes and the history of modern philosophy"-- Provided by publisher An outstanding introduction to one of the greatest of Western philosophers. Including a chronology, suggestions for further reading, and a glossary of key terms, it is essential reading for anyone studying Descartes and the history of modern philosophy. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 4 Title Page 6 Copyright Page 7 Table of Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Chronology 12 One: Introduction: the Very big Picture 16 Two: Life and Works 48 Three: The Limits of Our Metaphysical Tether 88 Four: Skepticism 123 Five: Arguments for the Existence of God 162 Six: Human Freedom 229 Seven: Immaterial Minds 274 Eight: External Bodies and Sufficient Certainty for Application to Ordinary Life 313 Nine: How Best to Live 350 Ten: Conclusion 396 Glossary 398 Bibliography 402 Index 420 seventeenth,century;,embodied;,Epistemology;,Philosophy,of,Mind;,Metaphysics;,free,will;,perception;,knowledge;,perception;,geometry;,God;,Mind,Body,Problem;,the,passions;,Descartes;,meditations;,skepticism;,evil,demon; seventeenth century,embodied,Epistemology,Philosophy of Mind,Metaphysics,free will,perception,knowledge,perception,geometry,God,Mind Body Problem,the passions,Descartes,meditations,skepticism,evil demon