Descartes and Augustine [Paperback]

Stephen Menn demonstrates Descartes' use of the central ideas of Augustine.This book is the first systematic study of Descartes' relation to Augustine. It offers a complete reevaluation of Descartes' thought and as such will be of major importance to all historians of medieval, neo-Platonic, or early modern philosophy. Special features of the book include a reading of the Meditations, a comprehensive historical and philosophical introduction to Augustine's thought, a detailed account of Plotinus, and a contextualization of Descartes' mature philosophical project.This book is the first systematic study of Descartes' relation to Augustine. It offers a complete reevaluation of Descartes' thought and as such will be of major importance to all historians of medieval, neo-Platonic, or early modern philosophy. Special features of the book include a reading of the Meditations, a comprehensive historical and philosophical introduction to Augustine's thought, a detailed account of Plotinus, and a contextualization of Descartes' mature philosophical project.This book is the first systematic study of Descartes' relationship to Augustine. It offers a complete reevaluation of Descartes' thought and as such will be of major importance to all historians of medieval, neo-Platonic, or early modern philosophy. Special features include a reading of the Meditations, a comprehensive historical and philosophical introduction to Augustine's thought, a detailed account of Plotinus, and a contextualization of Descartes' mature philosophical project.Introduction; 1. Descartes and the history of philosophy; 2. Descartes' project for a new philosophy; Part I. Augustinian Wisdom: 3. Plotinus; 4. Augustine; Part II. Descartes' Metaphysics: 5. The design of the Meditations; 6. Isolating the soul and God; 7. Theodicy and Method; 8. From God to bodies; 9. Conclusion. ...the best book in the English language on the Meditations... Historical scholarship does not get any better. David Glidden,l#3