Cartesian Metaphysics: The Scholastic Origins of Modern Philosophy

by Jorge Secada

This is the first book-length study of Decartes' metaphysics to place it in its immediate historical context, the Late Scholastic philosophy of thinkers such as Suárez against which Descartes reacted. Jorge Secada views Cartesian philosophy as an "essentialist" reply to the "existentialism" of the School, and his discussion includes careful analyses and original interpretations of such central Cartesian themes as the role of skepticism, the theory of substance, and the dualism of mind and matter. His study offers a picture of Descartes' metaphysics that is both novel and philosophically illuminating.

Genres: Philosophy

346 pages, Hardcover

First published April 19, 1996

Reviews

[Jooseppi Räikkönen]

Funnily enough this has been the most helpful thing I've read so far to clarify a couple of obscure points in Spinoza, though obviously super insightful and good analysis of Descartes as well. This also elaborated medieval theories of intentionality really well, which made me want to return to this paper.