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Questions tagged [descartes]

Questions related to René Descartes (31 March 1596 – 11 February 1650)

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What does Descartes mean by God could alter the truth of mathematical theorems, but not laws of nature?

Stumbled upon this statement in Stephen Hawking & Leonard Mlodinow's The Grand Design According to Descartes, God could at will alter the truth or falsity of ethical propositions or mathematical theorems, but not nature. He believed that God…
user69715
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Formal versus Objective Reality in Descartes

Descartes seems to define an idea as a representational mode of thought, a mode of thought which represents a certain object. For instance, the idea of the sun is a mode of thought which represents the sun, a certain 'object' in the world. He goes…
WolandBarthes
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Descartes and why the mind is perceived more evidently than the body

So i am currently reading Descartes Second Meditation and i am not sure if i understand the wax argument, i will try to write out how i understand it and I would appreciate any input. He shows using the wax that we need our intellect to form any…
Sorfosh
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Did Descartes view "cogito ergo sum" as applying only to himself?

I'm not a philosophical expert, but I'm wondering. Isn't it contradictory that Descartes, using his cogito, wants to both (a) prove that he exists and is uncertain of others and (b) provides a proof that can enable anyone to prove they exist?
Buffer Over Read
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How do I read the SEP citations for a particular author where there are numbers at the end of the sentence as a citation?

How do I read the SEP citations for a particular author where there are numbers at the end of the sentence as a citation? An example from the SEP article on Descartes: "Descartes had a different account. He held that the eternal truths are the…
Jerry Qu
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Is 'cogito ergo sum' an example of begging the question?

Could Descartes' assertion that it's self-evident that a "self" exists be seen as an example of begging the question, because in his attempt to understand existence, he seems to define it as, in part, "something that can think"?
theupandup
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In Descartes "Meditations on First Philosophy", what does the title "first philosophy" mean?

"Meditations" as outlined in his book refers to methods of acquiring knowledge, but what does "First philosophy" refer too/mean? It certainly does not carry a sequential meaning, because there is no "Second" philosophy..
Jabberbyter
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Descartes forth meditation: The role of god in the process of judgment making

In Descartes' forth meditation, he says" The privation, I say, present in this operation insofar as the operation proceeds from me, but not in the faculty given to me by god, nor even in its operation insofar as it depends upon god." I'm wondering…
user136592
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Whose major work was influenced by Descartes?

For instance, Newton's ‘Mathematical principles of natural philosophy’ is heavily influenced by Euclid's ‘Elements’. Newton was highly influenced by the Elements. So I would call Newton's book a practical example of Euclid's Elements. The question…
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Is the opposite of Descartes “cogito , ergo sum” also true?

Is the opposite of Descartes dictum “I think therefore I am “ also true ? That is , Is “I am unable to think therefore I am not” also true ? That is , Can I say “Those unable to think do not have Self” ?
Dheeraj Verma
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Descartes’s skepticism of the external world and belief in God

There is this popular opinion that Descartes overcame his notorious doubt in the existence of the external world because of his conviction that a benevolent God exists, who wouldn’t deceive him in such a manner. I didn’t find anything of that in…
viuser
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What Latin phrase did Descartes use to denote his Cartesian demon

I'm referring to the "evil demon", "malicious demon", "evil genius", etc, depending on translation. I'm looking for the original latin phrase.
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What are the best translations of Descartes books?

I'm planning on reading some of Descartes' books like Meditations on First Philosophy and Discourse on Method. I was wondering what are the best translations of these books and if there are any free downloadable ebooks of them?
Plotinus
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Why did Descartes believe the physical world was determined?

What justification does he give for the idea that everything in the physical world is determined?
Robert C
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Cogito ergo sum

What does Descartes mean when he uses the words "thought", and "doubt", in Cogito ergo sum. Could you please give me possible interpretations and definitions of the words. As the argument progresses, one would naturally assume that he meant two…
novice
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