philosophy of Rene Descartes - is that from which originated rationalism.This philosopher was known as a great mathematician.Many thinkers have based their arguments on the thoughts that once wrote Descartes."Principles of Philosophy" - one of his most famous treatises.
primarily Descartes is famous for the fact that proved the importance of the mind in the learning process, advanced the theory born of ideas, the doctrine of substance and its modes of attributes.He is also the author of the theory of dualism.In advancing this theory, he wanted to reconcile the idealists and materialists.
Descartes
That mind is the basis of knowledge and being, Descartes argued as follows: the world too many events and things, the essence of which is impossible to understand, it makes life difficult, but it gives the right to nominate doubt about that,it seems simple and straightforward.From this we can conclude that doubts exist always and under all circumstances.Doubt is a property of thought - who can doubt knows how to think.Thinking can only person who really exists, and therefore, thought is the basis of life, and knowledge.Thinking - is the work of reason.From this we can conclude that it is the mind is the root of all.
the study of the philosophy of being a philosopher wanted to withdraw the basic concept that would characterize the essence of being.After lengthy consideration, he takes the concept of substance.The substance - a fact that can not exist without the help of a third party - that is, for the existence of a substance do not need anything but itself.It describes the quality can have only one substance.It was she who called God.God is eternal, incomprehensible, almighty and absolute root cause of all.
He is the creator, who created the world, which also consists of a substance.Conjured substance they may also exist by themselves.They are self-sufficient only in relation to one another and to God - derivatives.
Descartes divides secondary to substance:
- material;
- spiritual.
It also highlights the attributes of both kinds of substance.For material - is an attraction for the spiritual - thinking.Descartes argues that man is, and of the spiritual and of material substances.In principle, this he stands out among the other creatures.From this is born the idea of dualism, that is, the duality of man.Descartes says that it makes no sense to look for an answer to the question, what is the root cause: the mind or matter.And both are connected only in person, as well as one dualistic - they simply can not be the root cause.There they are always different sides of life.Their relationship is obvious.
asking questions about knowledge, Descartes was the main emphasis is on the scientific method.He believed that this method was used in mathematics, physics and other sciences, but in philosophy it was not used.In other words, he believed that with the help of it you can discover something really new.As a scientific method he used deduction.
philosophy of Descartes contains the doctrine of innate ideas.The whole point is that we have some knowledge in the learning process, but there are some that are obvious and do not require any study or proof.They are called axioms.These axioms can be understood or judgments.Examples of concepts:
- God;
- the soul;
- number.
Examples judgments:
- or may not be at the same time is impossible;
- the whole is always greater than the part;
- Nothing can happen only nothing.
Note that this philosophy is the supporter of practical, not abstract knowledge.He believed that human nature needs to be improved.
