Radical Cartesianism: The French Reception of Descartes

by Tad M. Schmaltz

Overview

This is the first book-length study of two of Descartes's most innovative successors; Robert Desgabets and Pierre-Sylvain Regis; and of their highly original contributions to Cartesianism. Relating their work to that of fellow Cartesians such as Malebranche and Arnauld, the book establishes the important though neglected role played by Desgabets and Regis in the theologically and politically charged reception of Descartes in early-modern France. This major contribution to the history of Cartesianism is of interest to historians of early-modern philosophy and historians of ideas.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521811347
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/22/2002
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.83(d)
Lexile:	1700L (what's this?)

Table of Contents

Preface; A note on citation and translation; List of abbreviations; Introduction: radical Cartesianism in context; Part I. Robert Desgabets: 1. Desgabets's Considérations, Arnauld and Cartesianism; Part II. Three Radical Doctrines: 2. The creation doctrine: indefectible material substance and God; 3. The intentionality doctrine: ideas and extra-mental objects; 4. The union doctrine: temporal human thought and motion; Part III. Pierre-Sylvain Regis: 5. Huet's Censura, Malebranche and Platonism; Conclusion: 'a forgotten branch of Cartesianism'; Works cited; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Schmaltz's book contains philosophically sophisticated treatments of a host of philosophical problems from the period which we should take seriously ... the book is well worth reading." Philosophy in Review

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