Squaring the circle in Descartes' Meditations : the strong validation of reason / Stephen I. Wagner.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wagner, Stephen I., 1946- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Descartes, René, 1596-1650. Meditationes de prima philosophia.

Descartes, René.

First philosophy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xi, 244 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2014.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Descartes' Meditations is one of the most thoroughly analyzed of all philosophical texts. Nevertheless, central issues in Descartes' thought remain unresolved, particularly the problem of the Cartesian Circle. Most attempts to deal with that problem have weakened the force of Descartes' own doubts or weakened the goals he was seeking. In this book, Stephen I. Wagner gives Descartes' doubts their strongest force and shows how he overcomes those doubts, establishing with metaphysical certainty the existence of a non-deceiving God and the truth of his clear and distinct perceptions. Wagner's innovative and thorough reading of the text clarifies a wide range of other issues that have been left unclear by previous commentaries, including the nature of the cogito discovery and the relationship between Descartes' proofs of God's existence. His book will be of great interest to scholars and upper-level students of Descartes, early modern philosophy and theology.

Contents:

Cover; Half title; Title; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; Preface; Acknowledgments; 1 A proposal for achieving the strong validation of reason; 1.1 A problem pointing to a solution; 1.2 The historical background of Descartes' project; 1.3 Explaining Descartes' silence; 1.4 Two cautious responses; 1.5 An interpretive approach; 2 The experiential method of demonstration; 2.1 The Meditations as "cognitive exercises"; 2.2 "Reason" and "experience"; 2.3 A continuous line of discovery - three experiences of causal power; 3 Meditation I - experiencing the causal power of the imagination

3.1 Announcing the goal3.2 The arguments for doubt; 3.3 The transition to the experiential method of demonstration; 3.4 Imagining the demon - doubting previous beliefs; 4 Meditation II - experiencing the causal power of the intellect; 4.1 Announcing the goal; 4.2 The stage two arguments; 4.3 The transition to stage three; 4.4 Investigating the wax - discovering the essence and existence of the mind; 4.5 The results of the wax investigation; 5 Meditation III - experiencing the causal power of God; 5.1 Stage one - raising doubts and announcing the goal; 5.2 The stage two arguments

5.3 The transition to stage three5.4 Proving the existence of God; 5.5 Resolving a tension - Descartes' letter to Silhon; 6 Meditation IV - eliminating error; 6.1 Announcing the goals; 6.2 The stage two arguments; 6.3 The transition to stage three; 6.4 The stage three cognitive exercise; 7 Meditation V - establishing the structure of science; 7.1 Announcing the goals; 7.2 The stage two arguments; 7.3 The transition to stage three; 7.4 The stage three cognitive exercise - completing the validation project; 8 Conclusion; Bibliography; Index

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-139-98657-0

1-139-99121-3

1-316-01177-1

1-316-00727-8

1-316-01401-0

1-107-42064-4

1-316-00277-2

1-316-00501-1

1-316-00951-3

1-139-68032-3