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Week 3 / How to Think about
Subjects & Objects?
SUMMARY
Descartes and Spinoza are both rationalists. Both believe in the mind as the
most important source of knowledge. But both also promoted, supported
and conducted empirical, observational, experimental research.
They both distinguish between extended things (matter) and the mind. But
they differ in their way of thinking the relation between matter and mind.
For Descartes, extended things and thinking things constitute two
fundamentally different kinds of substance. Descartes’ philosophy is
therefore dualist.
Descartes’ model results in a hierarchy of perfection between res cogitans
(human minds) and res extensa (physical objects). This hierarchy leads to
the overvaluation of the human and the devaluation of nonhuman reality.
Human beings stand above Nature.
For Spinoza, extension and thought are just attributes (properties) of one
and the same substance: God or Nature. Spinoza’s philosophy is monist.
In Spinoza’s model, humans are part of Nature just like all other beings.
Human beings are not exempt from the natural laws by which beings affect
one another.
LECTURE
René Descartes Bento/Baruch/Benedictus Spinoza
1596-1650 1632-1677
Frenchman Born and lived in Amsterdam and
near The Hague
Lived in Dutch Republic for ca. 20
years Ethics published in 1677
(posthumously)
Week 3 / How to Think about Subjects & Objects? 1
, Meditations published in 1641
Historical context: Scientific Revolution
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
He was persecuted by Roman Inquisition for defending the heliocentric
model
He also lived in the Netherlands, because here the publication was less
controlled
Scientific Revolution:
Beginning: 1543 CE
Publication year of Nicolaus Copernicus On the Revolution of Heavenly
Spheres
End: 1687 CE
Publication year of Isaac Newton's The Mathematical Principles of
Natural Philosophy
Emphasis on empirical observation
→ Trust in the senses (as opposed to Plato’s mistrust)
Systematic research
“Systematicians”
Experimental research: hypothesis (that can be tested), (having a setup
in which you can make) observation, verification of hypothesis
For these researches, they needed scientific instruments (technological
media) to achieve
Greater range of observations,
Greater precision
Summary of Meditations 1 and 2
Fundamental Skepticism
Method of doubt
Week 3 / How to Think about Subjects & Objects? 2
Week 3 / How to Think about
Subjects & Objects?
SUMMARY
Descartes and Spinoza are both rationalists. Both believe in the mind as the
most important source of knowledge. But both also promoted, supported
and conducted empirical, observational, experimental research.
They both distinguish between extended things (matter) and the mind. But
they differ in their way of thinking the relation between matter and mind.
For Descartes, extended things and thinking things constitute two
fundamentally different kinds of substance. Descartes’ philosophy is
therefore dualist.
Descartes’ model results in a hierarchy of perfection between res cogitans
(human minds) and res extensa (physical objects). This hierarchy leads to
the overvaluation of the human and the devaluation of nonhuman reality.
Human beings stand above Nature.
For Spinoza, extension and thought are just attributes (properties) of one
and the same substance: God or Nature. Spinoza’s philosophy is monist.
In Spinoza’s model, humans are part of Nature just like all other beings.
Human beings are not exempt from the natural laws by which beings affect
one another.
LECTURE
René Descartes Bento/Baruch/Benedictus Spinoza
1596-1650 1632-1677
Frenchman Born and lived in Amsterdam and
near The Hague
Lived in Dutch Republic for ca. 20
years Ethics published in 1677
(posthumously)
Week 3 / How to Think about Subjects & Objects? 1
, Meditations published in 1641
Historical context: Scientific Revolution
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
He was persecuted by Roman Inquisition for defending the heliocentric
model
He also lived in the Netherlands, because here the publication was less
controlled
Scientific Revolution:
Beginning: 1543 CE
Publication year of Nicolaus Copernicus On the Revolution of Heavenly
Spheres
End: 1687 CE
Publication year of Isaac Newton's The Mathematical Principles of
Natural Philosophy
Emphasis on empirical observation
→ Trust in the senses (as opposed to Plato’s mistrust)
Systematic research
“Systematicians”
Experimental research: hypothesis (that can be tested), (having a setup
in which you can make) observation, verification of hypothesis
For these researches, they needed scientific instruments (technological
media) to achieve
Greater range of observations,
Greater precision
Summary of Meditations 1 and 2
Fundamental Skepticism
Method of doubt
Week 3 / How to Think about Subjects & Objects? 2
