CARTESIAN EPISTEMOLOGY IN THE RULES FOR THE DIRECTION OF THE MIND Cover Image

DEKARTIŠKOJI EPISTEMOLOGIJA PROTO VADOVAVIMO TAISYKLĖSE
CARTESIAN EPISTEMOLOGY IN THE RULES FOR THE DIRECTION OF THE MIND

Author(s): Tomas Saulius
Subject(s): Philosophy
Published by: Vilniaus Universiteto Leidykla
Keywords: epistemology; syllogism; intuition; deduction; analysis.

Summary/Abstract: According to dominant opinion, the early philosophy of Descartes engages on methodological problems, and this should be regarded as a mark of the new epoch. However, bearing in mind that these problems are of great relevance to Aristotle and that Descartes’ methodology evidently lacks explicitness, his relationship with the former tradition should be re-evaluated. The present paper aims to defend the view that in the Rules for the Direction of the Mind, his first philosophical work, Descartes demonstrates efforts to give firm epistemological basis for the liberation of theoretical thinking from any formal restrictions. Presenting new treatment of cognitive procedures, Descartes envisages a possibility of the variety of perspectives in theoretical explanation of phenomena, and this aspect reveals his originality.

  • Issue Year: 2014
  • Issue No: 85
  • Page Range: 91-105
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: Lithuanian