This book explores René Descartes’s attempts to describe particular bodies, such as rocks, minerals, metals, plants, and animals, within the mechanistic interpretation of nature of his philosophical program. Despite his early rationalistic epistemology, Descartes’s increasing attention to collections, histories, lists of qualities, and particular bodies results in a puzzling ‘short history of all natural phenomena’ contained in the Principles of philosophy (1644). The present book outlines the role of Descartes's observations and experimentation as he aimed to construct a universal science of nature, ultimately revealing the mechanization of nature in detail, and for curious bodies such as the Bologna Stone or the sensitive herb. What results is a theoretical natural history consistent with the mechanical principles of his philosophy, ultimately shedding new light on his attempt to produce a complete philosophy of nature.

Looking for a high-quality, original digital edition of René Descartes's Natural Philosophy and Particular Bodies ? This official electronic version is published by Springer Nature Switzerland and offers a seamless reading experience, perfect for professionals, students, and enthusiasts in Religion and Philosophy.
Unlike EPUB files, this is the authentic digital edition with complete formatting, images, and original content as intended by the author .
Enjoy the convenience of digital reading without compromising on quality. Order René Descartes's Natural Philosophy and Particular Bodies today and get instant access to this essential book!