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Ideas for 'A Theory of Conditionals', 'The World' and 'Sketch for a Theory of the Emotions'

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26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / f. Ancient elements

16569	The Hot, Cold, Wet and Dry of the philosophers need themselves to be explained [Descartes]
	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.
	From: René Descartes (The World [1631], 9:25-6), quoted by Robert Pasnau - Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671 1.3
	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.