Ideas from 'Preface to 'Principles of Philosophy'' by René Descartes [1647], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Discourse on Method/The Meditations' by Descartes,René (ed/tr Sutcliffe,F.E.) [Penguin 1968,0-14-044206-5]].

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1. Philosophy / E. Nature of Metaphysics / 4. Metaphysics as Science

21962

Metaphysics is the roots of the tree of science

			Full Idea: The whole of philosophy is like a tree. The roots are metaphysics, the trunk is physics, and the branches emerging from the trunk are all the other sciences.
			From: René Descartes (Preface to 'Principles of Philosophy' [1647]), quoted by A.W. Moore - The Evolution of Modern Metaphysics 01.2
			A reaction: If Descartes had not believed this he would not have bothered with metaphysics, and philosophy might have been dead by 1650.

2. Reason / F. Fallacies / 4. Circularity

3659	I know the truth that God exists and is the author of truth

			Full Idea: I have very clearly deduced the following truths, that there is a God who is the author of all that is in the world, and who is the source of all truth.
			From: René Descartes (Preface to 'Principles of Philosophy' [1647], p.180)

11. Knowledge Aims / B. Certain Knowledge / 1. Certainty

3657	Understanding, not the senses, gives certainty

			Full Idea: Certainty is not in the sense but in the understanding alone, when it has evident perceptions.
			From: René Descartes (Preface to 'Principles of Philosophy' [1647], p.177)

28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 5. Atheism

3660	Atheism arises from empiricism, because God is intangible

			Full Idea: The existence of God has been doubted by some, because they attributed too much to the perceptions of the senses, and God can be neither seen nor touched.
			From: René Descartes (Preface to 'Principles of Philosophy' [1647], p.180)