Studium Bonae Mentis: a presentation of the first Cartesian philosophical treatise
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14393/REVEDFIL.v39a2025-73960Keywords:
Descartes, History of Modern Philosophy, RationalismAbstract
This work aims to present the content of Descartes's first philosophical treatise: the Studium Bonae Mentis. From the only source of this writing – La Vie de Descartes, by Adrien Baillet – its content is reconstructed and analyzed. To this end, the text is divided into four main themes: 1) the desire to learn; 2) the classification of sciences; 3) the dispositions of the human spirit for learning; and 4) the order necessary to acquire wisdom. Furthermore, it is argued that studying this treatise is essential for scholars of Cartesian philosophy, as it highlights how the young Descartes begins to engage directly with philosophical questions. In this regard, the study offers an original examination of a foundational text essential to understanding the early development of Cartesian thought, with the aim of contributing to the broader body of research on Cartesian philosophy undertaken in Brazil.
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Data de registro: 11/06/2024
Data de aceite: 19/03/2025
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