物质、身体与空间——破译笛卡儿的形而上学革命

笛卡儿为近代自然科学明确了新方法,这是毫无疑义的。但是,笛卡儿的形而上学却像一个不可破解的谜团,后人甚至无法确定他的根本立场到底是革命的还是保守的。深入分析比较了笛卡儿与亚里士多德在物质观、空间观上的根本区别之后,本文得出结论：笛卡儿的方法论革命其实包藏了一场深刻的形而上学革命,他重新描画了宇宙图景以及人在宇宙中的地位、重新确定了人的本质、重新赋予了哲学使命。但是,天生胆小谨慎的笛卡儿为了自保而刻意地掩饰自己哲学的革命立场,这才导致他的形而上学像一部难解的密码。

Matter, Body and Space: Understanding the Metaphysics of Descartes

It is unquestionable that Descartes is an innovator of new method of natural science. But it is questionable whether he is a revolutionist in the realm of metaphysics. After comparing the Cartesian theory of matter and space with that of Aristotle, the writer concludes that the Cartesian innovation of methodology implies the revolution of metaphysics. Concerning the topics such as the picture of cosmos, the position of human being in cosmos, the nature of human being, the duty of philosophy, Cartesian attit...