Ideas from 'Reply to First Objections' by René Descartes [1641], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Philosophical Essays and Correspondence' by Descartes,René (ed/tr Ariew,Roger) [Hackett 2000,0-87220-502-9]].

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15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 2. Unconscious Mind

16634

I can't be unaware of anything which is in me

			Full Idea: Nothing can be in me of which I am entirely unaware.
			From: René Descartes (Reply to First Objections [1641]), quoted by Robert Pasnau - Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671 08.4
			A reaction: This I take to be a place where Descartes is utterly and catastrophically wrong. Until you grasp the utter falseness of this thought, the possibility of you (dear reader) understanding human beings is zero. Here 'I' obviously means his mind.

23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 5. Existence-Essence

3635	Essence must be known before we discuss existence

			Full Idea: According to the laws of true logic, we must never ask about the existence of anything until we first understand its essence.
			From: René Descartes (Reply to First Objections [1641], 108)

28. God / B. Proving God / 3. Proofs of Evidence / a. Cosmological Proof

3634	We can't prove a first cause from our inability to grasp infinity

			Full Idea: My inability to grasp an infinite chain of successive causes without a first cause does not entail that there must be a first cause, just as my inability to grasp infinite divisibility of finite things does not make that impossible.
			From: René Descartes (Reply to First Objections [1641], 106)