Descartes' Dualism

by Gordon Baker, Katherine Morris

Overview

Was Descartes a Cartesian Dualist? In this controversial study, Gordon Baker and Katherine J. Morris argue that, despite the general consensus within philosophy, Descartes was neither a proponent of dualism nor guilty of the many crimes of which he has been accused by twentieth century philosophers.
In lively and engaging prose, Baker and Morris present a radical revision of the ways in which Descartes' work has been interpreted. Descartes emerges with both his historical importance assured and his philosophical importance redeemed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415101219
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/07/1995
Pages:	249
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Baker, Gordon; Morris, Katherine

Table of Contents

Preface. Acknowledgements. Abreviations and shortened titles. 1 Visions - the programme, the strategy. 2. Cartesian Dualism - The Two wrold View, Consciousness and Clockwork, Catesian Introspection and Cartesian Observation, Cartesian Interaction. 3. A Shadow of a doubt - the two worlds view, Consciousness and Clockwork, Cartesian Introspection and Cartesian Observation, Cartesian Interaction. 4. Descartes' Dualism, The two-substances view, rational souls and sentient machines, self-knowledge, God and 'Our Nature as Union of Mind and Body', summary. 5. Revisions Descartes' Dualilsm: Neglected Aspects, Assesments of Descartes' Dualism, Metaphysics and concept formation, Conceptual Changes, Swapping New for Old, Division of Labour, Philosophical Imagination. Bibliography. Index of citations from Descartes. Name Index . Subject Index.

Editorial Reviews

Philosophers at Oxford University challenge the prevailing consensus on Descartes by arguing that his concept of a person differs widely from what is commonly understood as Cartesian Dualism. They argue that he did not believe in the mind as an inner world of private objects and the body as an insentient machine, indeed could not have without violating the logical, scientific, theological, and metaphysical framework of his thinking. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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