1996 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
A Study of the Philosophical Letters of Descartes.
| Project/Area Number |
06610007
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Philosophy
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| Research Institution | Nagoya University |
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Principal Investigator |
YAMADA Hiroaki Nagoya University, School of Letters, Professor, 文学部, 教授 (40106258)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1994 – 1996
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| Keywords | Elisabeth / passions / Mind-body Problem / view of life / goodness / health / Seneca / Machavelli |
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| Research Abstract |
The results of this study will be summed up to the next three points.
(1) This is the first complete Japanese translation of the text. The letters of Descartes to Elisabeth are mostly translated into Japanese, but the letters of Elisabeth to Descartes, almost forgotten, though they are also importaint. This study throws light, I believe, on the correspondence between the two.
(2) This explains a development of the cartesian philosophy through a criticism of Elisabeth. The Letters of Elisabeth shows that she was against almost every cartesian theme, such as the famous mind-body problem, the control of the passions, the supreme goodness and etc. But this severe criticism gave Descartes a good opportunity to reconsider and develop his philosophy.
(3) This is a good historical document, which shows a life in the 17th century Europe. There are many specific topics of the epoch, such as a spa, a superstition, the illness, a life in the palace, the 30 Years War, and etc. These topics are very useful for us to understand the mind and the sentiment of the people living in the 17th century Europe.
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