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Hypotheses and Certainty in Cartesian Science

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Part of the book series: Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science ((BSPS,volume 116))

Abstract

In his early methodological and scientific writings [the Discourse and Regulae as well as the Optics and Meterology] Descartes frequently claims that his goal is to produce a science deducible from first principles; one that would provide a level of certainty hitherto unattained. Although Descartes fails to provide in these texts the ultimate principles from which to deduce his physical explanations, he nevertheless promises to provide a complete account of his system in a later work. This is the task he set for himself in the Principles of Philosophy.

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© 1989 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Morrison, M. (1989). Hypotheses and Certainty in Cartesian Science. In: Brown, J.R., Mittelstrass, J. (eds) An Intimate Relation. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol 116. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2327-0_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2327-0_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7546-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-2327-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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