Description
Book SynopsisThis volume in the Oxford Readings in Philosophy series brings together some of the most influential and stimulating essays on Descartes' philosophy to have appeared in recent years. Edited by the renowned Descartes specialist Professor John Cottingham, the selection of essays covers the full range of Descartes' thought, including chapters on the central issues in Cartesian metaphysics, the relationship between mind and body, human nature and the passions, and thestructure of scientific explanation. These broad-ranging and accessible perspectives on Descartes' work will be essential reading for students and specialists.
Table of ContentsIntroduction ; I. Descartes and the Metaphysics of Doubt ; II. The Cogito and its Importance ; III. Clearness and Distinctness in Descartes ; IV. Foundationalism, Epistemic Principles and the Cartesian Circle ; V. Descartes on the Will ; VI. Descartes' Theory of Modality ; VII. The Epistemological Argument for Mind-Body Distinctness ; VIII. Descartes and the Unity of Human Being ; IX. Descartes' Theory of the Passions ; X. Descartes' Treatment of Animals ; XI. Descartes, Method and the Role of Experiment ; XII. Descartes' Concept of Scientific Explanation ; XIII. Force (God) in Descartes' Physics ; Notes on the Contributors ; Bibliography ; Table of Citations of Descartes' Works ; Index