Descartes on the Eternal Truths and Essences of Mathematics: An Alternative Reading.
René Descartes is neither a Conceptualist nor a Platonist when it comes to the ontological status of the eternal truths and essences of mathematics but articulates a view derived from Proclus. There are several advantages to interpreting Descartes' texts in light of Proclus' view of universals and p...
| Published in: | Vivarium Vol. 54; no. 2/3; pp. 204 - 250 |
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| Format: | Article |
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Brill Academic Publishers
2016
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=117824323&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: hlh uiTerm: 117824323 longDbName: Humanities International Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 00427543 C6F jtl: Vivarium issn: 00427543 maglogo: Y pubinfo: dt: 2016 vid: 54 iid: 2/3 pid: 639 pub: Brill Academic Publishers artinfo: ui: 117824323 10.1163/15685349-12341319 ppf: 204 ppct: 46 formats: fmt: @attributes: type: P size: 1.5MB tig: atl: Descartes on the Eternal Truths and Essences of Mathematics: An Alternative Reading. aug: au: Hattab, Helen affil: Department of Philosophy, University of Houston, Houston, USA su: Truth Eternity Philosophy of mathematics Descartes, René, 1596-1650 Ontology Creation sug: subj: Truth Eternity Philosophy of mathematics Descartes, René, 1596-1650 Ontology Creation keyword: Descartes eternal truths mathematics Proclus universals ab: René Descartes is neither a Conceptualist nor a Platonist when it comes to the ontological status of the eternal truths and essences of mathematics but articulates a view derived from Proclus. There are several advantages to interpreting Descartes' texts in light of Proclus' view of universals and philosophy of mathematics. Key passages that, on standard readings, are in conflict are reconciled if we read Descartes as appropriating Proclus' threefold distinction among universals. Specifically, passages that appear to commit Descartes to a Platonist view of mathematical objects and the truths that follow from them are no longer in tension with the Conceptualist view of universals implied by his treatment of the eternal truths in the Principles of Philosophy. This interpretation also fits the historical evidence and explains why Descartes ends up with seemingly inconsistent commitments to divine simplicity and God's efficient creation of truths that are not merely conceptually distinct from the divine essence. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: Y custom: Copyright of Vivarium is the property of Brill Academic Publishers and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. item: Vivarium holder: Brill Academic Publishers dt: @attributes: year: 2016 holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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