Cartesian Theodicy: Descartes' Quest for CertitudeAlmost all interpreters of Cartesian philosophy have hitherto focused on the epistemological aspect of Descartes' thought. In his Cartesian Theodicy, Janowski demonstrates that Descartes' epistemological problems are merely rearticulations of theological questions. For example, Descartes' attempt to define the role of God in man's cognitive fallibility is a reiteration of an old argument that points out the incongruity between the existence of God and evil, and his pivotal question `whence error?' is shown here to be a rephrasing of the question `whence evil?' The answer Descartes gives in the Meditations is actually a reformulation of the answer found in St. Augustine's De Libero Arbitrio and the Confessions. The influence of St. Augustine on Descartes can also be detected in the doctrine of eternal truths which, within the context of the 17th-century debates over the question of the nature of divine freedom, caused Descartes to ally himself with the Augustinian Oratorians against the Jesuits. Both in his Cartesian Theodicy as well as his Index Augustino-Cartesian, Textes et Commentaire Janowski shows that the entire Cartesian metaphysics can - and should - be read within the context of Augustinian thought. |
Contents
Acknowledgements | 11 |
Can God Deceive Us? | 49 |
The Doctrine of the Eternal Truths | 79 |
Human Freedom | 113 |
Descartes Reader of St Augustine | 141 |
163 | |
179 | |
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according Adrien Baillet argument Arnauld assent atheist Augustine Augustine's Augustinian Bérulle Cartesian cause Christian Chrysippus clear and distinct cogito cognitive conception created creator CSMK CSMK III deceiver deception Descartes deus deceptor distinct ideas distinct perceptions divine divine grace emphasis Z.J. Epicurean error essences eternal truths Etienne evil genius existence explain faith Ferrier Fourth Meditation freedom of indifference Gibieuf Gibieuf's book Gilson Gouhier grace human freedom hypothesis Ibid immutable insofar interpretation ISBN Jansenists Jansenius Jesuits Leibniz Letter to Mersenne Letter to Mesland libero arbitrio Libertate liberum arbitrium man's mathematics metaphysics mind Molinists nature necessary truths numbers omnipotent Oratorians origin Paris Pascal passage Principles of Philosophy problem question quod R.H. Popkin rational realm reason religion Replies AT VII Scholastic Scholasticism sense Set of Replies Sixth Set soul Stoics Summa Contra Gentiles Summa Theologica theodicy theologians theology things Thomas tion true