Descartes: An Analytical and Historical Introduction.

Abstract

Preface to the Second Edition Preface to the First Edition Note on the References and Abbreviations 1. Meditation and the Method of Doubt 1. Descartes's Goal 2. Cartesian Doubt 3. Is the Cartesian Doubt Self-Refuting? 3.1 Deceptiveness of the Senses 3.2 Dream Argument 3.3 Deceiver Argument Notes 2. Meditation II: the Cogito and the Self51 1. Descartes's I am thinking, therefore exist. 2. Certainty of One's Own Thoughts 3. A Problem for the Cogito 4. Substance Theory 5. A Reconstruction of the Cogito based on the substance theory 6. Critical Discussion of the Reconstructed Cogito 6.1 Substance Theory and the Argument from Change 6.2 Corollary 6.3 Assumption That Thoughts Are Properties 6.4 Inference to I Exist 7. A defense of the unreconstructed cogito 8. Does the unreconstructed cogito require an additional premise? 9. Descartes's Conception of the Self 10. Cartesian Dualism Notes 3. Meditation III: Criterion of Truth and the Existence of God 1. Descartes's Criterion of Truth 2. Project of Meditation III 3. From the Idea of God to God 3.1 Nature of Ideas 3.2 Objective Reality and Formal Reality 3.3 Core Argument 3.4 Central Argument of Meditation III: the Subargument, the Core Argument, and the Sequel 4. Criticisms of Descartes's Central Argument in Meditation III 4.1 Subargument 4.1.1 precontainment principle 4.1.2 Degrees of reality 4.1.3 Justifying the causal maxim 4.2 Problem of the Cartesian Circle 4.2.1 restriction of the doubt to past clear and distinct perceptions defense 4.2.2 general rule defense 4.2.3 radical doubt of reason and the creation of the eternal truths 4.2.4 validation of reason 4.3 A Final Criticism of the Core Argument Notes 4. Meditation IV: Error, Freedom, and Evil 1. issues of the Fourth Meditation 2. Error and the will 3. Two possible objections 3.1 Assenting and deciding to believe 3.2 Irresistibility and freedom 4. coherence of Cartesian Freedom 5. Descartes's troubling letter to Mesland 6. Error and evil 6.1 problem of evil 6.2 Cartesian theodicy 6.3 Some critical Reflections Notes 5. Meditation V: Ontological Argument for the Existence of God 1. Descartes's Ontological Argument 2. Critique of the Ontological Argument 2.1 Gaunilo's Objection 2.2 Kant's Objection 2.3 Further Consideration of Kant's Objection 2.4 Caterus's Objection 3. Some Implications for Descartes's System Notes 6: Meditation VI: Dualism and the Material World 1. scope of Meditation VI 2. Descartes's Proof of The Real Distinction between Mind and Body 3. Descartes's Proof of the Material World 4. Descartes on the Nature of the Material World 4.1 Primary and Secondary Qualities 4.2 Matter, Space, and Solidity 4.3 Bodies as Substances versus Bodies as Modes of Substance 5. Dualism and the Problem of Interaction 6. An Assessment of Cartesian Dualism Notes Bibliography