Descartes - by John G Cottingham (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In this new introduction to the life, thought and works of one of the greatest seventeenth-century philosophers, John Cottingham aims to place Descartes' ideas in their historical context while at the same time showing how they relate to a network of philosophical problems that are still vigorously debated today.

Separate chapters are devoted to Descartes' life and the intellectual climate of his times; the Cartesian method; the reconstruction of knowledge from self to God and to the external world; Descartes' theory of the material universe; his account of mind and body; and his psychology and theory of the will and passions.

While doing justice to the complexities of Descartes' thought, the book presupposes no philosophical training, and all technical philosophical notions are explained in such a way as to be intelligible to the first-year student or general reader.

From the Back Cover

In this new introduction to the life, thought and works of one of the greatest seventeenth-century philosophers, John Cottingham aims to place Descartes' ideas in their historical context while at the same time showing how they relate to a network of philosophical problems that are still vigorously debated today.

Separate chapters are devoted to Descartes' life and the intellectual climate of his times; the Cartesian method; the reconstruction of knowledge from self to God and to the external world; Descartes' theory of the material universe; his account of mind and body; and his psychology and theory of the will and passions.

While doing justice to the complexities of Descartes' thought, the book presupposes no philosophical training, and all technical philosophical notions are explained in such a way as to be intelligible to the first-year student or general reader.

Review Quotes

"An excellent general book on philosophy ... a wonderful introduction to the subject for both the general reader and the beginning student, and will be read with profit and pleasure by those more seasoned in the discipline." D.W.D. Owen, Times Higher Education Supplement

'A work that can be highly recommended as a most useful introduction to Descartes.' Pierre Watter, Times Educational Supplement

About the Author

John Cottingham is Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Reading. He is author of Rationalism (1994) and, in collaboration with R. Stoothoff and D. Murdoch, of a new two-volume translation of The Philosophical Writings of Descartes (1985).