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René Descartes

René Descartes

17 books · 1 interview

philosophy

What they argue

René Descartes is a foundational thinker of Western modernity who works in the territory of epistemology and the philosophy of the mind. He focuses on the architecture of human reason, the reliability of sensory experience, and the mastery of human passions through conscious will.

  1. Methodological Doubt

    This is a systematic process of rejecting any belief that is not 100% certain to find what is indisputably true. It is a tool for finding a foundation for knowledge rather than a denial that truth exists.

    From Descartes (book)

  2. The Thinking Thing (res cogitans)

    The human mind can achieve certainty by stripping away all sensory-based assumptions to find the foundational truth of the 'thinking thing.' The act of doubting one's existence proves that a 'doubter' must exist.

    From Descartes (book)

    • A related idea Immanuel Kant — The Distinction of 'Thinking' vs. 'Cognizing'Cognizing requires objective validity and is the proof of a possibility via experience or a priori reason. Thinking, by contrast, allows for any representation as long…Critique of Pure Reason
    • A related idea James Allen — Sovereignty of ThoughtThe mind is the primary force that molds reality and acts as the architect of one's environment. Just as the physical world operates under laws of cause and effect, the…As a Man Thinketh

  3. The Malicious Demon

    Descartes imagines a powerful, deceitful entity that manipulates his senses to make him believe in a blue sky and a solid floor. This thought experiment illustrates how our senses can be unreliable narrators.

    From Descartes (book)

  4. The Building Metaphor

    Descartes describes the human mind as a building where most people live in a structure built on prejudices. To find truth, one must strip away the false beliefs handed down by parents, teachers, or the church.

    From Discourse on the method for conducting one's reason well and for seeking truth in the sciences (book)

  5. The Passions as Bodily Reactions

    Passions are not 'emotions' in a vacuum but are physiological, physical, bodily reactions to sensory input. They occur when the imagination perceives a danger or a pleasure and the body responds.

    From The Passions of the Soul (book)

    • Says much the same Dacher Keltner — The Motor Pattern of EmotionEmotions are fundamentally linked to physical motor patterns, including facial muscles, body posture, and gestures. Understanding emotions as physical actions is…Cultivating Awe & Emotional Connection in Daily Life | Dr. Dacher Keltner
    • A related idea Lisa Feldman Barrett — Constructed EmotionsEmotions are not hard-wired reactions to the world; they are labels the brain constructs to make sense of bodily sensations and past experiences. There is no universal…226: Where emotions come from (and why it matters) Part 1

  6. The Cartesian Method of Order

    To ensure that no truth is left out and no falsehood is let in, Descartes proposes a four-step method for investigating any problem. One must never accept anything as true unless it is 'clearly and distinctly' true.

    From Principia philosophiae (book)

Every idea names the summary it came from. Written by a local model from this mind’s own work, never from memory.

Books 14

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