Many kinds of Cartesian views are treated by these papers: the views that Descartes held, views from our perspective on those views, views on Descartes held by his early critics and followers, and views that are Cartesian in outlook (not for nothing is Descartes still regarded as the father of modern philosophy.) These overlapping views provide the unity of this volume, and reflect the unity of Richard A.Watsonâs philosophical work. Not least among Watsonâs contributions has been his depiction of Cartesianism as a response to a set of problems within Descartesâs philosophy. The later Cartesians were not slavish followers of Descartes. The contributors to this volume might be viewed as standing to Watson as the Cartesians did to Descartes.
Thomas M. Lennon, Ph.D. (1968) in Philosophy, The Ohio State University, is Professor of Philosophy at The University of Western Ontario, Canada. He has published extensively on early modern philosophy, including The Battle of the Gods and Giants, and Reading Bayle.
"The collection will undoubtedly be of wide interest to many different species of academic...this is a thorough diverting and enjoyable read."
Timothy Chappell, JEMH, 2005.
"This is a collection of fourteen terrific essays honoring Professor Richard âRedâ Watson."
Kurt Smith, Renaissance Quarterly.
Preface
Abbreviations
PERSONAL INTRODUCTIONS
1. Red as Research Assistant, Richard H. Popkin
2. Red as Colleague, William H. Gass
CARTESIAN VIEWS
I. Descartes in Holland
3. Spinoza and The Downfall of Cartesianism, Steven Nadler
4. Different Clothing from Like Cloth: Metaphysical and ethical diversities in Dutch Cartesianism, Han van Ruler
5. A Philospherâs Life, Theo Verbeek
III. Systemic Concerns
9. Wittgensteinâs Evil Demon, David Hausman & Alan Hausman
10. The Aboutness of Thought, Fred Wilson
11. A Philosopher at Large, Alison Wylie
12. Exercises in Betrayal: Philosophy in Translation, Alan Gabbey
IV. Censorship and Toleration
13. The Roman Censure of the Institutio Philosophiae of Antoine Le Grand (1629â99) according to Unpublished Documents from the Archives of the Holy Office, Jean-Robert Armogathe
14. Freedom to Philosophize: Some Philosophical Questions about Science, Theology, and State in the Seventeenth Century, Daniel Garber
A SHORT BIBLIOGRAPHY OF RICHARD A. WATSON
A Short Bibliography (March 2003)
Index
Al those interested in the history of early modern philosophy, and early modern ideas generally, Descartes influence on the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of science.