Historical Dictionary of Descartes and Cartesian Philosophy (Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements Series)

Descartes is perhaps most closely associated with the title, “the Father of Modern Philosophy.” Generations of students have been introduced to the study of philosophy through a consideration of his Meditations on First Philosophy . His contributions to natural science is shown by the fact that his physics, as promulgated by the Cartesians, played a central role in the debates after his death over Isaac Newton’s theory of gravitation. Descartes also made major contributions to the field of analytic geometry; we still speak today of “Cartesian coordinates” and the “Cartesian product.” This second edition of Historical Dictionary of Descartes and Cartesian Philosophy covers the history through a chronology, an introductory essay, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 300 cross-referenced entries on various concepts in Descartes’ philosophy, science, and mathematics, as well as biographical entries about the intellectual setting for Descartes’ philosophy and its reception, both with Cartesians and anti-Cartesians. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Descartes. "Descartes is perhaps most closely associated with the title, "the Father of Modern Philosophy." Generations of students have been introduced to the study of philosophy through a consideration of his Meditations on First Philosophy. His contributions to natural science are shown by the fact that his physics, as promulgated by the Cartesians, played a central role in the debates after his death over Isaac Newton's theory of gravitation, even after Descartes's death. Descartes also made major contributions to the field of analytic geometry; we still speak today of "Cartesian coordinates" and the "Cartesian product." This second edition of Historical Dictionary of Descartes and Cartesian Philosophy encompasses a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary contains more than 300 cross-referenced entries on various concepts in Descartes' philosophy, science, and mathematics, as well as biographical entries about the intellectual setting for Descartes' philosophy and its reception, both with Cartesians and anti-Cartesians. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Descartes."--Back cover Contents 11 Editor鈥檚 Foreword 13 Preface 15 Reader鈥檚 Note 17 Chronology 19 Introduction 23 THE DICTIONARY 39 A 39 B 63 C 83 D 127 E 149 F 161 G 171 H 191 I 203 J 213 K 219 L 223 M 241 N 267 O 271 P 277 Q 295 R 297 S 313 T 333 U 343 V 347 W 357 Bibliography 361 About the Authors 409 Content: Editor's Foreword Jon Woronoff Preface Reader's Note Chronology Introduction THE DICTIONARY Bibliography About the Authors