Outra Margem: revista de filosofia

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Vol. 4 No. 6 (2017): 1º Semestre de 2017

A MODERNIDADE ‘NA’ FILOSOFIA DE DESCARTES: A CRÍTICA DAS FORMAS SUBSTANCIAIS

Submitted
April 5, 2026
Published
2017-01-01

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to show how Descartes worked out his
mechanistic philosophy. So the first step to reach this goal led Descartes to criticize and
abandon the notion of ‘substantial form’, which was largely employed by the schoolmen
to explain all events concerning natural beings in a qualitative way. Having discharged
the substantial form, the next step was to establish a new subject-matter for natural
philosophy, which he found in the material body (res extensa) and its geometrical
properties. From these modifications introduced by Descartes will also emerge a new
method of investigating natural phenomena based on mathematical measurement and
precision, more commited with a ‘Platonic epistemology’ than with an ‘Aristotelic one’.
We will conclude by asserting that Descartes was in agreement with many of his
contemporaries, most notably Bacon and Galileo, thinkers who were engaged in
fighting against the formalistic philosophy of Aristotle. Together with them Descartes
has given his contribuition for the renovation of the western philosophy.

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