Spirits and Clocks
Subtitle: Machine and Organism in Descartes
Publisher: Cornell University Press
Published: January 2001
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 181
ISBN-13: 9780801437649
Subjects: Philosophy of science; Western philosophy, c 1600 to c 1800; Life Sciences - Anatomy & Physiology; History; Philosophy; Physiology; Logic; History & Surveys - General; Descartes, Renâe,; 1596-1650; Descartes, Rene,; Knowledge
First sentence: The Traite de l'Homme starts abruptly: "These men will be composed, like us, of a Soul and a Body."1
Description: "Although the basis of modern biology is Cartesian, Descartes' theories of biology have been more often ridiculed than studied. Yet, Dennis Des Chene demonstrates, the themes, arguments, and vocabulary of his mechanistic biology pervade the writings of many seventeenth-century authors.

In his illuminating account of Cartesian physiology in its historical context, Des Chene focuses on the philosopher's innovative reworking of that field, including the nature of life, the problem of generation, and the concepts of health and illness." "Spirits and Clocks continues Des Chene's exploration - begun in his previous book, Life's Form - of the scholastic and Cartesian sciences as well as the dialogue between these two worldviews."--BOOK JACKET.