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Ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'The Establishment of Scientific Semantics' and 'Meditations'

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2 ideas

12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 2. Qualities in Perception / c. Primary qualities
For Descartes, objects have one primary quality, which is geometrical [Descartes, by Robinson,H]
     Full Idea: Descartes denies any similarity between the physical world and ideas, as matter possesses only geometrical properties; Locke allows more primary qualities, but follows Boyle and the atomists in treating secondary qualities as creations of sense.
     From: report of René Descartes (Meditations [1641]) by Howard Robinson - Perception 1.5
     A reaction: The interesting point to note here is that Descartes' geometrical view of objects (they are defined purely by 'extension') is the view that they have one minimal primary quality. I prefer Locke's view, of which the history (given here) is interesting.
12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 5. Interpretation
Why does pain make us sad? [Descartes]
     Full Idea: Why should a certain sadness of spirit arise from a sensation of pain?
     From: René Descartes (Meditations [1641], §6.76)