Descartes

René Descartes (1596–1650) is known for his introspective turn away from sensible bodies and toward non-sensory ideas of mind, body, and God. David Cunning's book introduces and examines the full range of Descartes' philosophy, focusing on his 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. It also addresses skepticism, the existence of God, the ontology of possibility and necessity, freedom and embodiment, the immateriality of mind, sensible bodies, and the pragmatic certainty by which to navigate them. It is essential reading for anyone studying Descartes and the history of modern philosophy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 410 pages
Publication date: 25 July 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

René Descartes (1596–1650) is renowned for his profound shift from focusing on tangible bodies to exploring non-sensory concepts of mind, body, and God. Descartes believed that such a transformation was necessary, but only once in a person's lifetime, with the ultimate goal of attaining a more accurate understanding of reality that could be integrated into daily embodied existence.

In this comprehensive and accessible book, David Cunning delves into the entirety of Descartes' philosophy. A central theme of the book revolves around Descartes' belief that embodied human beings become more perfect as they progress towards finite approximations of independence, activity, immutability, and enhanced knowledge. Cunning begins by providing an introduction and a chapter that explores Descartes' life and works, laying the foundation for the subsequent discussions.

The book addresses various key topics, including:

Descartes' admiration for the wonders of the material universe
Skepticism as epistemic garbage and the effortless 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 to live.

Descartes serves as an exceptional introduction to one of the most influential philosophers in Western history. It includes a chronology, suggestions for further reading, and a glossary of key terms, making it an indispensable resource for anyone interested in studying Descartes and the development of modern philosophy.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780415775045