Descarte's Rules for the Direction of the Mind

Taken from the original manuscripts of Joachim's lectures on the Regulae of Descartes, this volume was reconstructed after his death from notes taken by his pupils Errol Harris and John Austin. A critical examination of the main rules for the direction of the mind and the expositions by which Descartes explains them, the work contains commentary on five main topics: the power of knowing, the nature of the intellect, Descartes' account of induction and deduction, Descartes' method of analysis and synthesis, and the notion of vera mathesis. This volume provides valuable material both as a critical commentary on the Rules and for its criticism of current philosophical method. Joachim's lucidity will appeal to every student of philosophy.