Author: Gareth Southwell
Publisher: WoodPig Press
ISBN: 1739300599
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 39
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Book Description
Animals feel pain – so much is obvious. But René Descartes didn't think so. In fact, the man who has been called the Father of Modern Philosophy thought there was no more to the yelps and cries of a suffering animal than the squeaks and groans of an unoiled hinge, and (for the purposes of science) he was even rumoured to have dissected living dogs and nailed cats to trees. For, he reasoned, we wouldn't worry about the “feelings” of a watch or a clock, no matter what noises it made. Descartes’s views on animals now seem callous and outdated, and we might readily consign them to the dustbin of the history of ideas – except for the fact that many people still share them. For curiously, Descartes's views have formed the basis for modern developments in computing and artificial intelligence – from which point of view, we are all just machines. Written in an engaging and humorous style, this short book investigates the roots of this philosophy, exploring the connections between Descartes’s view of animals, AI, and the persisting puzzle of consciousness.
Author: Janet Broughton
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 9780470765845
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 558
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Book Description
A collection of more than 30 specially commissioned essays, this volume surveys the work of the 17th-century philosopher-scientist commonly regarded as the founder of modern philosophy, while integrating unique essays detailing the context and impact of his work. Covers the full range of historical and philosophical perspectives on the work of Descartes Discusses his seminal contributions to our understanding of skepticism, mind-body dualism, self-knowledge, innate ideas, substance, causality, God, and the nature of animals Explores the philosophical significance of his contributions to mathematics and science Concludes with a section on the impact of Descartes's work on subsequent philosophers
Author: Dan Whipple
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 276
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Book Description
Descartes' Dog is an intellectual historical mystery novel. The seventeenth century philosopher René Descartes uses his method for uncovering truth to solve the murder of his former lover. In this pursuit, he becomes entangled in the violent politics of the Thirty Years War and the target of a secret and mysterious group, the Brotherhood of the Rose Cross. This portion of the novel is set primarily in 17th century Netherlands. There is a parallel story, set in 2019 Boulder, Colorado, in which a philosophy professor stumbles across Descartes' Memoir, lost for 400 years. Planning to use this spectacular document to advance his career, he is unexpectedly threatened by members of this same brotherhood which had threatened Descartes in the 1600s. This society has survived in secret for 400 years, searching for a book that will give them untold power and wealth. Our professor attempts to defraud them, by pretending to hold the key to the philosophers stone, the Rosicrucians' long-sought key to eternal wealth, vast lifespans and spiritual enlightenment. In the end, the real book with the formula for the philosophers stone is discovered, hiding in plain sight. Violence ensues over its possession. The story becomes a battle between magic and rationality from the early Age of Reason to the modern world.
Author: Fabrizio Baldassarri
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3031486633
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 219
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Book Description
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.
Author: Andre Gombay
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470777362
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 165
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Book Description
A bold and insightful departure from related texts, Descartes goes beyond the categorical associations placed on the philosopher’s ideas, and explores the subtleties of his beliefs. An elegant, compelling and insightful introduction to Descartes' life and work. Discusses a broad range of his most scrutinized philosophical thought, including his contributions to logic, philosophy of the mind, epistemology, metaphysics, the philosophy of science, and the philosophy of religion. Explores the subtleties of Descartes' seemingly contradictory beliefs. Addresses themes left unexamined in other works on Descartes.
Author: Marc Bekoff
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135930090
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 485
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Book Description
Human beings' responsibility to and for their fellow animals has become an increasingly controversial subject. This book provides a provocative overview of the many different perspectives on the issues of animal rights and animal welfare in an easy-to-use encyclopedic format. Original contributions, from over 125 well-known philosophers, biologists, and psychologists in this field, create a well-balanced and multi-disciplinary work. Users will be able to examine critically the varied angles and arguments and gain a better understanding of the history and development of animal rights and animal protectionist movements around the world. Outstanding Reference Source Best Reference Source
Author: Paul Bloom
Publisher:
ISBN: 0786738995
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 289
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Book Description
All humans see the world in two fundamentally different ways: even babies have a rich understanding of both the physical and social worlds. They expect objects to obey principles of physics, and they’re startled when things disappear or defy gravity. Yet they can also read emotions and respond with anger, sympathy, and joy.In Descartes’ Baby, Bloom draws on a wealth of scientific discoveries to show how these two ways of knowing give rise to such uniquely human traits as humor, disgust, religion, art, and morality. How our dualist perspective, developed throughout our lives, profoundly influences our thoughts, feelings, and actions is the subject of this richly rewarding book.
Author: Bernard Rollin
Publisher: Temple University Press
ISBN: 1592138276
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 305
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Book Description
Putting the Horse before Descartes showcases this passionate animal advocate at his best. In witty, often disarming detail, Rollin describes how he became an outspoken critic of how animals were treated in veterinary and medical schools and research laboratories. He recalls teaching veterinary students about ethical issues and engaging in face-offs with ranchers and cowboys about branding methods and rodeo roping competitions. Rollin also describes his efforts to legally mandate more humane conditions for agricultural and laboratory animals. As public concern about animal welfare and the safety of the food supply heighten, Rollin carries on his work on a global scaleùin classrooms, in lecture halls, in legislatures, in meetings of agricultural associations, in industrial settings, and in print. --Book Jacket.
Author: David Grimm
Publisher: Public Affairs
ISBN: 1610391330
Category : Pets
Languages : en
Pages : 354
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Book Description
A pet-lover and award-winning journalist traces the history of cats and dogs and the changing social attitudes that transformed these furry creatures from pests and hunting tools in the middle ages to their current status as beloved family members. 30,000 first printing.
Author: Joseph Almog
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 9780195177190
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 170
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Book Description
Almog decodes Descartes' argument for distinguishing between the human mind and body while maintaining their essential integration in a human being. His reading not only steers away from popular interpretations of the philosopher, but also represents a scholar coming to grips directly with Descartes himself.
