Descartes’ Treatise on Man and its Reception

Descartes’ Treatise on Man and its Reception

Author: Delphine Antoine-Mahut

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2017-01-16

Total Pages: 298

ISBN-13: 3319469894

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This edited volume features 20 essays written by leading scholars that provide a detailed examination of L’Homme by René Descartes. It explores the way in which this work developed themes not just on questions such as the circulation of the blood, but also on central questions of perception and our knowledge of the world. Coverage first offers a critical discussion on the different versions of L'Homme, including the Latin, French, and English translations and the 1664 editions. Next, the authors examine the early reception of the work, from the connection of L'Homme to early-modern Dutch Cartesianism to Nicolas Steno's criticism of the work and how Descartes' clock analogy is used to defend two different conceptions of the articulation between anatomical observations and functional hypotheses. The book then goes on to explore L'Homme and early-modern anthropology as well as the how the work has been understood and incorporated into the works of scientists, physicians, and philosophers over the last 150 years. Overall, readers will discover how the trend over the last few decades to understand human cognition in neuro-physiological terms can be seen to be not something unprecedented, but rather a revival of a way of dealing with these fundamental questions that was pioneered by Descartes.


Book Synopsis Descartes’ Treatise on Man and its Reception by : Delphine Antoine-Mahut

Download or read book Descartes’ Treatise on Man and its Reception written by Delphine Antoine-Mahut and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-01-16 with total page 298 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This edited volume features 20 essays written by leading scholars that provide a detailed examination of L’Homme by René Descartes. It explores the way in which this work developed themes not just on questions such as the circulation of the blood, but also on central questions of perception and our knowledge of the world. Coverage first offers a critical discussion on the different versions of L'Homme, including the Latin, French, and English translations and the 1664 editions. Next, the authors examine the early reception of the work, from the connection of L'Homme to early-modern Dutch Cartesianism to Nicolas Steno's criticism of the work and how Descartes' clock analogy is used to defend two different conceptions of the articulation between anatomical observations and functional hypotheses. The book then goes on to explore L'Homme and early-modern anthropology as well as the how the work has been understood and incorporated into the works of scientists, physicians, and philosophers over the last 150 years. Overall, readers will discover how the trend over the last few decades to understand human cognition in neuro-physiological terms can be seen to be not something unprecedented, but rather a revival of a way of dealing with these fundamental questions that was pioneered by Descartes.

Treatise of Man

Treatise of Man

Author: René Descartes

Publisher:

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 184

ISBN-13:

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Besides his more famous works of philosophy - Discourse on Method, Meditations on First Philosophy, and Principles of Philosophy - Descartes devoted a great deal of time and thought to the study of physiology and anatomy. An account of his activities in 1629 reports that he visited butcher shops on an almost daily basis to study specific animal organs, and he practiced dissection and even vivisection to explore the workings of major organ systems. In the 1630s, he assisted in the dissection of human cadavers - all to satisfy his intense curiosity about how bodies, animal and human, work. The fruits of this research can be found in his Treatise of Man, a work that he decided not to publish for fear of suffering the same fate as Galileo. Consequently, this fascinating treatise did not appear until twelve years after his death. Among its many intriguing features are his detailed descriptions of the nervous system and its interactions with the muscles to create movement in response to stimulus. Though we now know that many of these details are wrong, Descartes' understanding that much of the body functions as a machine was a stroke of genius. He is the first to describe the reflex arc, anticipating Pavlov and the behaviorists by almost 300 years. The idea of the body as a kind of animal machine that functions according to physical laws was an immense advance over the previous scholastic notions based on Aristotle, which merely begged the question of how the various organs of the body work by stating that it is in their nature to perform their specific functions. This is a landmark work that students of history, medicine, biology, and the history of science will find richly rewarding.


Book Synopsis Treatise of Man by : René Descartes

Download or read book Treatise of Man written by René Descartes and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Besides his more famous works of philosophy - Discourse on Method, Meditations on First Philosophy, and Principles of Philosophy - Descartes devoted a great deal of time and thought to the study of physiology and anatomy. An account of his activities in 1629 reports that he visited butcher shops on an almost daily basis to study specific animal organs, and he practiced dissection and even vivisection to explore the workings of major organ systems. In the 1630s, he assisted in the dissection of human cadavers - all to satisfy his intense curiosity about how bodies, animal and human, work. The fruits of this research can be found in his Treatise of Man, a work that he decided not to publish for fear of suffering the same fate as Galileo. Consequently, this fascinating treatise did not appear until twelve years after his death. Among its many intriguing features are his detailed descriptions of the nervous system and its interactions with the muscles to create movement in response to stimulus. Though we now know that many of these details are wrong, Descartes' understanding that much of the body functions as a machine was a stroke of genius. He is the first to describe the reflex arc, anticipating Pavlov and the behaviorists by almost 300 years. The idea of the body as a kind of animal machine that functions according to physical laws was an immense advance over the previous scholastic notions based on Aristotle, which merely begged the question of how the various organs of the body work by stating that it is in their nature to perform their specific functions. This is a landmark work that students of history, medicine, biology, and the history of science will find richly rewarding.

Treatise on Man

Treatise on Man

Author: René Descartes

Publisher: Newcomb Livraria Press

Published: 1972-01-01

Total Pages: 137

ISBN-13:

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"The effect of this man on his age and the new age cannot be imagined broadly enough... René Descartes is indeed the true beginner of modern philosophy, insofar as it makes thinking the principle. "- Hegel "Descartes was the first to bring to light the idea of a transcendental science, which is to contain a system of knowledge of the conditions of possibility of all knowledge." - Kant "Descartes is rightly considered the father of modern philosophy" - Schopenhauer A new 2023 translation directly from the original manuscripts into English of Descartes' famous 1622 Treatise on Man (sometimes translated "Treatise of Man"). This edition contains a new introduction and afterword from the translator, as well as a timeline of Descartes' life and summaries of each of his works. Here, Descartes explores the nature of human beings, their place in the world, and how they interact with their environment. It is significant because it established the idea of dualism, the belief that the mind and body are separate entities. This idea has had a profound significant impact on both philosophy and psychology, as it directly influenced Freud.


Book Synopsis Treatise on Man by : René Descartes

Download or read book Treatise on Man written by René Descartes and published by Newcomb Livraria Press. This book was released on 1972-01-01 with total page 137 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The effect of this man on his age and the new age cannot be imagined broadly enough... René Descartes is indeed the true beginner of modern philosophy, insofar as it makes thinking the principle. "- Hegel "Descartes was the first to bring to light the idea of a transcendental science, which is to contain a system of knowledge of the conditions of possibility of all knowledge." - Kant "Descartes is rightly considered the father of modern philosophy" - Schopenhauer A new 2023 translation directly from the original manuscripts into English of Descartes' famous 1622 Treatise on Man (sometimes translated "Treatise of Man"). This edition contains a new introduction and afterword from the translator, as well as a timeline of Descartes' life and summaries of each of his works. Here, Descartes explores the nature of human beings, their place in the world, and how they interact with their environment. It is significant because it established the idea of dualism, the belief that the mind and body are separate entities. This idea has had a profound significant impact on both philosophy and psychology, as it directly influenced Freud.

The World and Man

The World and Man

Author: René Descartes

Publisher: Hackett Publishing

Published: 2023-09-29

Total Pages: 173

ISBN-13: 1647921376

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In late 1633, as Descartes was preparing The World and Man for publication, he learned that Galileo had been condemned by the Catholic Church for defending the motion of the earth. His reaction to the news was swift and powerful: as his own treatises also espoused the proposition deemed heretical, he canceled their publication. More than thirty years after Descartes had begun his project, these works were finally published, posthumously, both to acclaim and to controversy. Together, they profoundly influenced the course of modern philosophy. This volume presents Roger Ariew’s clear and engaging translations of Descartes’s treatises, along with a general Introduction, describing the long road to publication, the reception of the works, and their significance. Appendices provide selections from Descartes’s correspondence on Galileo, Part V of the Discourse on Method, and a summary of Descartes’s Description of the Human Body.


Book Synopsis The World and Man by : René Descartes

Download or read book The World and Man written by René Descartes and published by Hackett Publishing. This book was released on 2023-09-29 with total page 173 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In late 1633, as Descartes was preparing The World and Man for publication, he learned that Galileo had been condemned by the Catholic Church for defending the motion of the earth. His reaction to the news was swift and powerful: as his own treatises also espoused the proposition deemed heretical, he canceled their publication. More than thirty years after Descartes had begun his project, these works were finally published, posthumously, both to acclaim and to controversy. Together, they profoundly influenced the course of modern philosophy. This volume presents Roger Ariew’s clear and engaging translations of Descartes’s treatises, along with a general Introduction, describing the long road to publication, the reception of the works, and their significance. Appendices provide selections from Descartes’s correspondence on Galileo, Part V of the Discourse on Method, and a summary of Descartes’s Description of the Human Body.

The Cartesian Brain

The Cartesian Brain

Author: Denis Kambouchner

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2024-09-23

Total Pages: 265

ISBN-13: 1040144950

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This volume presents new research on Cartesian psychophysiology that combines historical and textual analysis with a consideration of recent advances in contemporary neuroscience research. It seeks to explain why the Cartesian theory of the brain and its communication with the mind still offer a remarkable model for cognitive studies. New research in the philosophy of mind and cognitive science has reignited interest in the role and the structure of the "Cartesian brain" among scholars of Descartes. This volume rethinks Cartesian psychology from the perspective of physiology, with the aim of redetermining the contributions of the brain and central nervous system to mental phenomena. The first part of the volume concerns the details of Descartes’s own physiological account of the brain. The discussion covers his treatment not only of the anatomy of the brain but also of the mode of interaction between mind and body, in which the pineal gland plays a central role, and of the relation between the brain and the rest of the body. The second part considers the reception and legacy of the Cartesian brain. The focus here is on understanding how Cartesian psychophysiology was received by Descartes’s early modern contemporaries and immediate successors, as well as on the relevance of the Cartesian brain for contemporary neurophysiology and cognitive science. The Cartesian Brain is an essential resource for scholars and advanced students interested in Descartes, history of philosophy, history of science, philosophy of mind, and cognitive science.


Book Synopsis The Cartesian Brain by : Denis Kambouchner

Download or read book The Cartesian Brain written by Denis Kambouchner and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2024-09-23 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume presents new research on Cartesian psychophysiology that combines historical and textual analysis with a consideration of recent advances in contemporary neuroscience research. It seeks to explain why the Cartesian theory of the brain and its communication with the mind still offer a remarkable model for cognitive studies. New research in the philosophy of mind and cognitive science has reignited interest in the role and the structure of the "Cartesian brain" among scholars of Descartes. This volume rethinks Cartesian psychology from the perspective of physiology, with the aim of redetermining the contributions of the brain and central nervous system to mental phenomena. The first part of the volume concerns the details of Descartes’s own physiological account of the brain. The discussion covers his treatment not only of the anatomy of the brain but also of the mode of interaction between mind and body, in which the pineal gland plays a central role, and of the relation between the brain and the rest of the body. The second part considers the reception and legacy of the Cartesian brain. The focus here is on understanding how Cartesian psychophysiology was received by Descartes’s early modern contemporaries and immediate successors, as well as on the relevance of the Cartesian brain for contemporary neurophysiology and cognitive science. The Cartesian Brain is an essential resource for scholars and advanced students interested in Descartes, history of philosophy, history of science, philosophy of mind, and cognitive science.

Dutch Cartesianism and the Birth of Philosophy of Science

Dutch Cartesianism and the Birth of Philosophy of Science

Author: Andrea Strazzoni

Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG

Published: 2018-11-19

Total Pages: 254

ISBN-13: 3110569698

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How did the relations between philosophy and science evolve during the 17th and the 18th century? This book analyzes this issue by considering the history of Cartesianism in Dutch universities, as well as its legacy in the 18th century. It takes into account the ways in which the disciplines of logic and metaphysics became functional to the justification and reflection on the conceptual premises and the methods of natural philosophy, changing their traditional roles as art of reasoning and as science of being. This transformation took place as a result of two factors. First, logic and metaphysics (which included rational theology) were used to grant the status of indubitable knowledge of natural philosophy. Second, the debates internal to Cartesianism, as well as the emergence of alternative philosophical world-views (such as those of Hobbes, Spinoza, the experimental science and Newtonianism) progressively deprived such disciplines of their foundational function, and they started to become forms of reflection over given scientific practices, either Cartesian, experimental, or Newtonian.


Book Synopsis Dutch Cartesianism and the Birth of Philosophy of Science by : Andrea Strazzoni

Download or read book Dutch Cartesianism and the Birth of Philosophy of Science written by Andrea Strazzoni and published by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. This book was released on 2018-11-19 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How did the relations between philosophy and science evolve during the 17th and the 18th century? This book analyzes this issue by considering the history of Cartesianism in Dutch universities, as well as its legacy in the 18th century. It takes into account the ways in which the disciplines of logic and metaphysics became functional to the justification and reflection on the conceptual premises and the methods of natural philosophy, changing their traditional roles as art of reasoning and as science of being. This transformation took place as a result of two factors. First, logic and metaphysics (which included rational theology) were used to grant the status of indubitable knowledge of natural philosophy. Second, the debates internal to Cartesianism, as well as the emergence of alternative philosophical world-views (such as those of Hobbes, Spinoza, the experimental science and Newtonianism) progressively deprived such disciplines of their foundational function, and they started to become forms of reflection over given scientific practices, either Cartesian, experimental, or Newtonian.

The Oxford Handbook of Descartes and Cartesianism

The Oxford Handbook of Descartes and Cartesianism

Author: Steven Nadler

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Published: 2019-04-25

Total Pages: 843

ISBN-13: 0198796900

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The Oxford Handbook of Descartes and Cartesianism comprises fifty specially written chapters on Rene Descartes (1596-1650) and Cartesianism, the dominant paradigm for philosophy and science in the seventeenth century, written by an international group of leading scholars of early modern philosophy. The first part focuses on the various aspects of Descartes's biography (including his background, intellectual contexts, writings, and correspondence) and philosophy, with chapters on his epistemology, method, metaphysics, physics, mathematics, moral philosophy, political thought, medical thought, and aesthetics. The chapters of the second part are devoted to the defense, development and modification of Descartes's ideas by later generations of Cartesian philosophers in France, the Netherlands, Italy, and elsewhere. The third and final part considers the opposition to Cartesian philosophy by other philosophers, as well as by civil, ecclesiastic, and academic authorities. This handbook provides an extensive overview of Cartesianism - its doctrines, its legacies and its fortunes - in the period based on the latest research.


Book Synopsis The Oxford Handbook of Descartes and Cartesianism by : Steven Nadler

Download or read book The Oxford Handbook of Descartes and Cartesianism written by Steven Nadler and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2019-04-25 with total page 843 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Oxford Handbook of Descartes and Cartesianism comprises fifty specially written chapters on Rene Descartes (1596-1650) and Cartesianism, the dominant paradigm for philosophy and science in the seventeenth century, written by an international group of leading scholars of early modern philosophy. The first part focuses on the various aspects of Descartes's biography (including his background, intellectual contexts, writings, and correspondence) and philosophy, with chapters on his epistemology, method, metaphysics, physics, mathematics, moral philosophy, political thought, medical thought, and aesthetics. The chapters of the second part are devoted to the defense, development and modification of Descartes's ideas by later generations of Cartesian philosophers in France, the Netherlands, Italy, and elsewhere. The third and final part considers the opposition to Cartesian philosophy by other philosophers, as well as by civil, ecclesiastic, and academic authorities. This handbook provides an extensive overview of Cartesianism - its doctrines, its legacies and its fortunes - in the period based on the latest research.

Early Modern Cartesianisms

Early Modern Cartesianisms

Author: Tad M. Schmaltz

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 393

ISBN-13: 0190495227

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This new comparative study considers the impact of Descartes's thought on early modern philosophy, theology and science. This consideration reveals that competing Cartesianisms emerged in the Netherlands and France during a period dating from the last decades of Descartes's life to the century or so following his death in 1650.


Book Synopsis Early Modern Cartesianisms by : Tad M. Schmaltz

Download or read book Early Modern Cartesianisms written by Tad M. Schmaltz and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2017 with total page 393 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This new comparative study considers the impact of Descartes's thought on early modern philosophy, theology and science. This consideration reveals that competing Cartesianisms emerged in the Netherlands and France during a period dating from the last decades of Descartes's life to the century or so following his death in 1650.

Descartes and the Ingenium

Descartes and the Ingenium

Author: Raphaële Garrod

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2020-11-23

Total Pages: 253

ISBN-13: 9004437622

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A historically-informed account of the lasting importance of embodied thought in the intellectual trajectory of René Descartes, still remembered today as the founding father of dualism.


Book Synopsis Descartes and the Ingenium by : Raphaële Garrod

Download or read book Descartes and the Ingenium written by Raphaële Garrod and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2020-11-23 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A historically-informed account of the lasting importance of embodied thought in the intellectual trajectory of René Descartes, still remembered today as the founding father of dualism.

The Good Cartesian

The Good Cartesian

Author: Steven Nadler

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2024-04-12

Total Pages: 345

ISBN-13: 0197671713

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Steven Nadler presents a biographical and philosophical study of Louis de La Forge (1632-1666), an important but underappreciated (and understudied) follower of René Descartes (1596-1650) who made a major contribution to making Cartesianism the dominant philosophical paradigm of the seventeenth century. La Forge was a devoted and faithful, but not uncritical, disciple who defended, updated, and even corrected Descartes' metaphysics, physics, and physiology, both to move Cartesian system to greater internal coherence and to make it more consistent with the latest scientific developments.


Book Synopsis The Good Cartesian by : Steven Nadler

Download or read book The Good Cartesian written by Steven Nadler and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2024-04-12 with total page 345 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Steven Nadler presents a biographical and philosophical study of Louis de La Forge (1632-1666), an important but underappreciated (and understudied) follower of René Descartes (1596-1650) who made a major contribution to making Cartesianism the dominant philosophical paradigm of the seventeenth century. La Forge was a devoted and faithful, but not uncritical, disciple who defended, updated, and even corrected Descartes' metaphysics, physics, and physiology, both to move Cartesian system to greater internal coherence and to make it more consistent with the latest scientific developments.