Descartes' System of Natural Philosophy

Description

Towards the end of his life, Descartes published the first four parts of a projected six-part work, The Principles of Philosophy. This was intended to be the definitive statement of his complete system of philosophy, dealing with everything from cosmology to the nature of human happiness. Stephen Gaukroger examines the whole system, and reconstructs the last two parts, 'On Living Things' and 'On Man', from Descartes' other writings. He relates the work to the tradition of late Scholastic textbooks which it follows, and also to Descartes' other philosophical writings, and he examines the ways in which Descartes transformed not only the practice of natural philosophy but also our understanding of what it is to be a philosopher. His book is the first comprehensive examination of Descartes' complete philosophical system.

Educated at University of London (BA 1974) and University of Cambridge (PhD 1977). Currently Professor of History of Philosophy and History of Science, University of Sydney. Previous Books include: Explanatory Structures (Harvester, 1978), ed, Descartes: Philosophy, Mathematics and Physics (Harvester, 1980), Cartesian Logic (Oxford University Press, 1989), Descartes, An Intellectual Biography (Oxford University Press, 1995), Descartes: The World and Other Writings (Cambridge University Press, 1998), ed., The Soft Underbelly of Reason (Routledge, 1998), ed, with J. Schuster and J. Sutton, Descartes' System of Natural Philosophy (Routledge, 2000), Francis Bacon and the Transformation of Early Modern Philosophy (Oxford University Press 2001).

'Gaukroger's book provides many insights into the sturcture and function of Descartes' natural philosophy and should provoke fruitful discussions in the relevant areas of Cartesian and Early Modern study.' Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews 'Descartes scholars everywhere will welcome this book.' Endeavour ' ... the book is much recommended. Descartes' System performs a badly needed job proficiently, and everyone who cares about Descartes or early modern natural philosophy should read it.' Oxford Academic Journals