num_pages: 272
description: A solid grasp of the main themes and arguments of the seventeenth century philosopher Rene Descartes is an essential tool towards understanding modern thought, and a necessary entree to the work of the empiricists and Immanuel Kant, and to the study of contemporary epistemology and philosophyof mind. Clear and accessible, this new book serves as an introduction to Descartes's ideas for undergraduates and as a sophisticated companion to his Meditations for more advanced readers. After a thorough discussion of the main themes and arguments of the Meditations , the historical background ofthe work, and its critical reception, the author offers his own reflections on Cartesian doubt, the cogito , the causal and ontological proofs of God's existence, the Cartesian circle, Cartesian dualism, and Descartes' views of the material world. The commentary includes and cross-references thefull text of Meditations I, II , and V , and most of Meditations III and VI , employing John Cottingham's highly-praised translation.
language: English
title: Descartes: An Analytical and Historical Introduction
titlecomplete: Descartes: An Analytical and Historical Introduction
genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy, History
ratings_count: 18
publisher: Oxford University Press