Descartes and the Doubting Mind

Descartes characterisation of the mind as a 'thinking thing marks the beginning of modern philosophy of mind. It is also the point of departure for Descartes own system in which the mind is the first object of knowledge for those who reason in an 'orderly way. This ground-breaking book shows that the Cartesian mind has been widely misunderstood: typically treated as simply the subject of phenomenal consciousness, ignoring its deeply intellectual character. James Hill argues that this interpretation has gone hand in hand with a misreading of Descartes method of doubt which treats it as all-inclusive and universal in scope. In fact, the sceptical arguments of the First Meditation aim to lead the mind away from the senses and towards the intellectual 'notions that the mind has within it, and which are never the subject of doubt. Hill also places Descartes concept of mind into the wider setting of his science of nature, showing how he wished to reveal a mental subject that would able to comprehend the new physics necessitated by Copernicus heliocentrism.Table of ContentPreface; Biographical Note; 1. Introduction; 2. Who is Descartes' Meditator?; 3. Empiricism and Natural Philosophy; 4. The Method of Doubt; 5. Res Cogitans; 6. The Active Self; 7. Sense, Sensation and Animal Life; 8. Cartesian Consciousness; Bibliography of Works Cited; Index.Review QuoteA careful account of the most valuable parts of Descartes's work. Clearly and economically written, it is scholarly, but not weighed down by scholarship; which makes it a valuable guide for both beginners and more advanced students of Descartes.Review QuoteIn a careful and well-informed reading, James Hill argues that Descartes' account of mind is no afterthought of his physics, but is instead a well-conceived consequence of the same method that grounds his physics, the method of doubt. This is an excellent and important book.Review QuoteThroughout this short volume, James Hill writes with authority and clarity. He seems to assume the reader has little previous knowledge of the topic and its components, resulting in an argument accessible to newcomers yet specialized enough to engage those well-versed in the field. Descartes and the Doubting Mind is an important addition to the field of philosophy, particularly for those interested in empiricist/rationalist arguments.Review QuoteThe strength of this book lies in its ability to offer new paths for cartesian metaphysics and in the inherent strategy of the thoughtBiographical NoteJames Hill is Lecturer in Philosophy at Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.A clearly defined and original account of Descartes' concept of mind, the starting point of his whole philosophical system.Now published as Bloomsbury Studies in Philosophy. Continuum Studies in Philosophy presents cutting-edge scholarship in all the major areas of research and study. The wholly original arguments, perspectives and research findings in titles in this series make it an important and stimulating resource for students and academics from a range of disciplines across the humanities and social sciences.Offers a new interpretation of Descartes' method of doubt that departs from the standard view.Presents a systematic account of the neglected question of how Descartes treats sense and sensation.Relates Descartes' understanding of consciousness and sensation to contemporary philosophy of mind.