A significação da Mathesis Universalis em Descartes / The meaning of Mathesis Universalis in Descartes
AUTOR(ES)
Leandro de Araujo Sardeiro
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO
2008
RESUMO
We have dealt with the problem of human knowledge in the constitution of the Regulae ad directionem ingenii (1619-1628), as it is concerned with the signification of the Mathesis universalis. We intended to defend a comprehension of the Mathesis universalis as science of knowledge in general - different, therefore, from the Mathematicae - by showing its applicability in the diverse fields of knowledge through the analysis of the simple natures. Thus, we claim that the Mathesis universalis is not fully apprehended when it is conceived of as a general theory of quantity, for it is determined by simple natures, which do not only express quantities, but all knowledgeable objects, including the metaphysical ones. The universality of the Mathesis universalis would then be expressed in its indefinite applicability, for it is potentially present in each and every description and problematization of the simple natures. That is why, for example, we claim that the simple natures do not only express things which are dealt with quantitatively, but equally refer to propositions, in whose scope we find, among others, objects that are common to a wide range of forms of knowledge. The Mathesis universalis would then be a metascience, one that should deal with metaobjects. Thus, we have brought forth the notion of ingenium so as to show that, since it was then connected to the Regulae s more scientifical problematics, it then resignated itself to an epistemology that did not go so far as to constitute a metaphysics; what, however, would not constitute impediment to a future application of the Mathesis universalis to that field of knowledge, to wit, metaphysics. All of this discussion presupposes as valid the material presentation of the Hannover manuscript of the Regulae, found by Foucher de Careil in the first half of the XIX century, which relegates the discussion related to the mathesis universalis developed in rule IV to an appendix - what made us raise this questioning concerning the "signification" of the Mathesis universalis
ASSUNTO(S)
epistemology representação (filosofia) science racionalismo eneias junior descartes filosofia - ciencia rationalism rene forlin epistemologia representation (philosophy) philosophy
