Descartes on the Creation of the Eternal Truths
Descartes on the Creation of the Eternal Truths
Author(s): Danielle MacbethSubject(s): Philosophy, History of Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy of Science
Published by: Tallinna Tehnikaülikooli õiguse instituut
Keywords: Descartes’ creation doctrine; logical necessity; logical truth; mathematical truths; mathematical necessity; non-logical necessity;
Summary/Abstract: On 15 April 1630, in a letter to Mersenne, Descartes announced that on his view God creates the truths of mathematics. Descartes returned to the theme in subsequent letters and some of his Replies but nowhere is the view systematically developed and defended. It is not clear why Descartes came to espouse the creation doctrine, nor even what exactly it is. Some have argued that his motivation was theological, that God creates the eternal truths, including the truths of logic, because and insofar as God is omnipotent and the creator of all things. I develop and defend a different reading according to which Descartes was led to espouse the creation doctrine by a fundamental shift in his understanding of the correct mode of inquiry in metaphysics and mathematics: by 1630, the God-created truths came to play the role in inquiry that until then, in the Rules for the Direction of the Mind, had been played by images.
Journal: Acta Baltica Historiae et Philosophiae Scientiarum
- Issue Year: 5/2017
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 5-27
- Page Count: 23
- Language: English