In this note I criticize Robert Lenoble's thesis concerning the presence of beast-machine theory in Mersenne's Harmonie universelle (1636-37). I claim that the paragraph on which Lenoble grounds his interpretation presents, instead, a central concept for the Cartesian studies, namely that of the 'evil genius'. The evil genius argument is used by Mersenne in relation to the problem of perception and knowledge, moreover, it is used against skepticism before the publication of Descartes Discours de la méthode

'Animale-macchina' e 'genio maligno', due idee non cartesiane nell'Harmonie universelle di Mersenne

C Buccolini
2014

Abstract

In this note I criticize Robert Lenoble's thesis concerning the presence of beast-machine theory in Mersenne's Harmonie universelle (1636-37). I claim that the paragraph on which Lenoble grounds his interpretation presents, instead, a central concept for the Cartesian studies, namely that of the 'evil genius'. The evil genius argument is used by Mersenne in relation to the problem of perception and knowledge, moreover, it is used against skepticism before the publication of Descartes Discours de la méthode
2014
Istituto per il Lessico Intellettuale Europeo e Storia delle Idee - ILIESI
Beast-machine; Descartes; Evil Genius; Perception; Skepticism; Mersenne
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14243/279643
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact