Descartes' Philosophical Influences: Plato, Augustine, and Renaissance Thought

Descartes' Relationship with Other Authors

Descartes' philosophy is deeply intertwined with the ideas of other thinkers. He first engages with Plato, both embracing and rejecting aspects of his thought. Descartes distrusts the senses and conceives that all knowledge is based on reason, echoing Plato's rationalism.

A second major influence stems from medieval philosophy, particularly as questioned by Descartes. Educated at the College of La Flèche, he felt his work was influenced by figures like St. Augustine. The famous 'cogito' argument ('If I am mistaken, then I am') bears resemblance to Augustine's thought.

Other issues in Descartes' thought involve the demonstration of God's existence, where he rejects scholastic influences. He critiques St. Anselm's ontological argument and the principle of causality as applied by Francisco Suarez.

Renaissance Influences

Renaissance philosophy significantly shaped Descartes, particularly the skepticism of Montaigne. Descartes saw a need for a revival of skepticism and its application as a method. He also drew from ancient currents, including early Platonic thought. Other philosophers of this period who influenced him include Erasmus, Vives, Machiavelli, Aristotelians, Stoics, and Atomists.

Comparison with St. Thomas Aquinas

Descartes can be related to St. Thomas Aquinas because both apply the principle of causality to God. However, St. Thomas believes that we must demonstrate the existence of God, a point on which he differs with Descartes.

Descartes' Contribution

A primary contribution of Descartes' philosophy is the re-establishment of the 'cogito' as the foundation of all reflection, imbuing philosophy with a modern twist. This influence is present in philosophers such as Spinoza, Locke, Leibniz, Kant, Hegel, Husserl, and Sartre, for whom the 'cogito' is again the starting point of philosophy.

Impact on Science and Medicine

Cartesian philosophy was influential in science and medicine. The body is viewed as a machine that can be analyzed by examining its parts. The physician's task is to intervene, identify damage, and repair it. This model favors a hierarchical relationship between doctor and patient. Descartes' emphasis on mathematics also propelled its application in a mathematically-driven world.