On the Reasons for Descartes’ Irritation at Gassendi’s Position Cover Image

O powodach irytacji Kartezjusza stanowiskiem Gassendiego
On the Reasons for Descartes’ Irritation at Gassendi’s Position

Author(s): Jerzy Kopania
Subject(s): Philosophy, History of Philosophy, Metaphysics, Early Modern Philosophy
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku
Keywords: Descartes; Gassendi; polemic; Disquisitio metaphysica

Summary/Abstract: This article analyses the reasons why Descartes refused to enter into a polemic with Gassendi after the publication of his new objections to Meditations. It argues that Descartes’ irritation was justified because the sensualist limitations of Gassendi’s position made him unable to understand the issues which constituted an important novelty in Descartes’ philosophy. For his part, Descartes is likely to have suspected that Gassendi was not even trying to understand the essence of his philosophy.

  • Issue Year: 1/2015
  • Issue No: XXVII
  • Page Range: 13-40
  • Page Count: 28
  • Language: Polish