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132 reviews for:
Discourse on the Method and Meditations on First Philosophy
René Descartes, René Descartes
3.44 AVERAGE
132 reviews for:
Discourse on the Method and Meditations on First Philosophy
René Descartes, René Descartes
3.44 AVERAGE
104th book of 2021.
3.5. Full review to come. I enjoyed Discourse far more than Meditations. I also read an older Penguin edition translated by Wollaston that I cannot find on GR for some reason, so this newer Penguin cover will suffice. Though I wanted to read Aristotle before branching out into Descartes, Aristotle is proving to be annoyingly hard to find (for a reasonable price, that is). Descartes is a good writer and his work is clearly written but some of his ideas are quite transparently outdated and no longer stand as they must have done at first. Nevertheless, I found this to be an enjoyable and thought-provoking read. Now to backtrack and find some Aristotle, which is the universe's intended order, no doubt.
3.5. Full review to come. I enjoyed Discourse far more than Meditations. I also read an older Penguin edition translated by Wollaston that I cannot find on GR for some reason, so this newer Penguin cover will suffice. Though I wanted to read Aristotle before branching out into Descartes, Aristotle is proving to be annoyingly hard to find (for a reasonable price, that is). Descartes is a good writer and his work is clearly written but some of his ideas are quite transparently outdated and no longer stand as they must have done at first. Nevertheless, I found this to be an enjoyable and thought-provoking read. Now to backtrack and find some Aristotle, which is the universe's intended order, no doubt.
Not exactly pleasure reading, but it is interesting that in an attempt to prove the existence of a god, he only managed to prove that he exists. Oh yeah, and thanks for the mind-body problem D, thanks a lot.
Let us suppose, then, that we are dreaming, and that all these particulars--namely, the opening of the eyes, the motion of the head, the forth- putting of the hands--are merely illusions; and even that we really possess neither an entire body nor hands such as we see. Nevertheless it must be admitted at least that the objects which appear to us in sleep are, as it were, painted representations which could not have been formed unless in the likeness of realities; and, therefore, that those general objects, at all events, namely, eyes, a head, hands, and an entire body, are not simply imaginary, but
really existent. For, in truth, painters themselves, even when they study to represent sirens and satyrs by forms the most fantastic and extraordinary, cannot bestow upon them natures absolutely new, but can only make a certain medley of the members of different animals; or if they chance to imagine something so novel that nothing at all similar has ever been seen before, and such as is, therefore, purely fictitious and absolutely false, it is at least certain that the colors of which this is composed are real.
And on the same principle, although these general objects, viz. [a body], eyes, a head, hands, and the like, be imaginary, we are nevertheless absolutely necessitated to admit the reality at least of some other objects still more simple and universal than these, of
which, just as of certain real colors, all those images of things, whether true and real, or false and fantastic, that are found in our consciousness (cogitatio),are formed.
really existent. For, in truth, painters themselves, even when they study to represent sirens and satyrs by forms the most fantastic and extraordinary, cannot bestow upon them natures absolutely new, but can only make a certain medley of the members of different animals; or if they chance to imagine something so novel that nothing at all similar has ever been seen before, and such as is, therefore, purely fictitious and absolutely false, it is at least certain that the colors of which this is composed are real.
And on the same principle, although these general objects, viz. [a body], eyes, a head, hands, and the like, be imaginary, we are nevertheless absolutely necessitated to admit the reality at least of some other objects still more simple and universal than these, of
which, just as of certain real colors, all those images of things, whether true and real, or false and fantastic, that are found in our consciousness (cogitatio),are formed.
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Read this for school but Descartes was absolutely cooking. Was it wordy? Yes. Did he have all his science exactly right?No. Did he have a lot of really fantastic ideas? Absolutely!
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Wow, I understood so little. That which I do understand is nice. I have a new understanding and appreciation of science and thought during the time period and can see how I could use decarte in an educational setting. I veryuch disagree with his views on animals, however, which he sees as soulless.
Содержательная сторона с первого прочтения и без знакомства с историческим контекстом понятна не вполне, но литературные качества сочинений родственны, неожиданным образом, Беккету и, скажем, Хармсу.