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Full Idea
If you find it strange that in explaining these elements I do not use the qualities called Hot, Cold, Wet and Dry - as the philosophers do - I shall say to you that these qualities themselves seem to me to need explanation.
Gist of Idea
The Hot, Cold, Wet and Dry of the philosophers need themselves to be explained
Source
René Descartes (The World [1631], 9:25-6), quoted by Robert Pasnau - Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671 1.3
Book Ref
Pasnau,Robert: 'Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671' [OUP 2011], p.10
A Reaction
Nice. I take pushing the boundaries of explanation back (or down) to be the basic driving force of all human thought, in metaphysics as well as in physics.
22593 | Our sensation of light may not be the same as what produces the sensation [Descartes] |
20964 | Descartes said there was conservation of 'quantity of motion' [Descartes, by Papineau] |
16569 | The Hot, Cold, Wet and Dry of the philosophers need themselves to be explained [Descartes] |