Hypotheses and certainty in cartesian science

Margaret Morrison

pp. 43-64

in: James BROWN, Jürgen Mittelstrass (eds), An intimate relation, Berlin, Springer, 1989

Abstract

In his early methodological and scientific writings [the Discourse and Regulae as well as the Optics and Meterology] Descartes frequently claims that his goal is to produce a science deducible from first principles; one that would provide a level of certainty hitherto unattained. Although Descartes fails to provide in these texts the ultimate principles from which to deduce his physical explanations, he nevertheless promises to provide a complete account of his system in a later work. This is the task he set for himself in the Principles of Philosophy.

Cited authors

Descartes René