Descartes and the Doubting Mind

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Descartes' characterisation of the mind as a 'thinking thing' marks the beginning of modern philosophy of mind. It is also the point of departure for Descartes' own system in which the mind is the first object of knowledge for those who reason in an 'orderly way'. This ground-breaking book shows that the Cartesian mind has been widely misunderstood: typically treated as simply the subject of phenomenal consciousness, ignoring its deeply intellectual character. James Hill argues that this interpretation has gone hand in hand with a misreading of Descartes' method of doubt which treats it as all-inclusive and universal in scope. In fact, the sceptical arguments of the First Meditation aim to lead the mind away from the senses and towards the intellectual 'notions' that the mind has within it, and which are never the subject of doubt. Hill also places Descartes' concept of mind into the wider setting of his science of nature, showing how he wished to reveal a mental subject that would able to comprehend the new physics necessitated by Copernicus' heliocentrism.

Reviews

A careful account of the most valuable parts of Descartes's work. Clearly and economically written, it is scholarly, but not weighed down by scholarship; which makes it a valuable guide for both beginners and more advanced students of Descartes. -- Professor David Berman, Department of Philosophy, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
In a careful and well-informed reading, JamesHill argues that Descartes' account of mind is no afterthought of his physics,but is instead a well-conceived consequence of the same method that grounds hisphysics, the method of doubt. This is an excellent and important book. -- Margaret Atherton, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA
Throughout this short volume, James Hill writes with authority and clarity. He seems to assume the reader has little previous knowledge of the topic and its components, resulting in an argument accessible to newcomers yet specialized enough to engage those well-versed in the field. Descartes and the Doubting Mind is an important addition to the field of philosophy, particularly for those interested in empiricist/rationalist arguments. -- Obsense

Author Bio

James Hill is Lecturer in Philosophy at Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.