Maintaining that it is impossible to understand the work of a philosopher without understanding the previous history of thought and the contemporaneous developments, this book, originally published in 1932, is an in-depth study of Descartes’ philosophy with a strong emphasis on the historical approach. It covers Descartes’ early life and education, before continuing to discuss his method of doubt, the existence of God, the scientific interpretation of nature, the unity of knowledge, the attributes of God and free-will.
1. The Heritage of Descartes 2. The Mission of Descartes 3. Cogito, Ergo, Sum 4. The Existence of God 5. The Nature of Scientific Knowledge 6. The Objects of Scientific Knowledge 7. The Problem of Perception 8. The Attributes of God 9. The Vindication of Human Knowledge 10. Free-Will and the Moral Life
Biography
A. Boyce Gibson was Professor in Philosophy at University of Melboune.
