The Cartesian crisis refers to a philosophical and epistemological crisis that arose in the 17th century due to the radical skepticism of René Descartes. Descartes’ method of systematic doubt led him to question the reliability of sensory perception, memory, and even the existence of an external world. This crisis challenged the traditional foundations of knowledge and led to a reevaluation of the nature of reality and the limits of human understanding.
Key aspects of the Cartesian crisis:
- Methodic Doubt: Descartes’ method of systematic doubt involved questioning everything he believed, including the existence of God, the external world, and his own existence.
- Cogito ergo sum: Descartes’ famous conclusion, “I think, therefore I am,” established his own existence as the only thing he could be certain of.
- Dualism: Descartes proposed a dualistic view of reality, dividing it into two distinct substances: mind (res cogitans) and matter (res extensa).
- Mind-Body Problem: The dualistic view raised the question of how the mind and body interact, leading to the mind-body problem, a philosophical puzzle that has persisted to this day.
The Cartesian crisis had a profound impact on Western philosophy, leading to new approaches to epistemology, metaphysics, and the study of the mind. It also influenced the development of modern science and the rise of empiricism.
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