“Descartes’ Philosophical Physiology”. There is something strange about the waywe see Descartes’ doctrine. We know, on the one hand, that it is a dualism and,on the other, that it is a mechanicism. However, we seldom consider the factthat this combination is at odds with our current philosophical mores. Thecontemporary dualist is usually an anti-mechanicist and the contemporarymechanicist is usually an anti-dualist. This paper offers a revision of Descartes’main works in an attempt to render intelligible to contemporary readers a doctrinal combination the shocking nature of which we do not perceive for the solefact that we tend to maintain its diverse parts in separate compartments. Theproposed revision by the way shows us that Descartes is a much more interestingand rich author than what ordinary clichés let us perceive. Thus for example, aserious consideration of Descartes�...

Ocurre algo curioso con la manera cómo vemos la doctrina de Descartes. Sabemos, por un lado, que es un dualismo y, por el otro, que es un mecanicismo. Sin embargo, rara vez paramos mientes en el hecho de que esa combinación es insólita desde el punto de vista de nuestras actuales mores filosóficas. El dualista contemporáneo suele ser antimecanicista y el mecanicista contemporáneo suele ser antidualista. Este artículo ofrece una revisión de las obras principales de Descartes en un intento por hacer comprensible a los lectores contemporáneos una combinación doctrinal cuya naturaleza chocante no percibimos por el mero hecho de que tendemos a mantener sus diversas partes en compartimentos estancos. La revisión que se propone nos muestra, de paso, que Descartes es un autor mucho más interesante y rico de lo que esconden los clichés ordinarios. Así por ejemplo, tomar en serio el ...

“Descartes’ Philosophical Physiology”. There is something strange about the waywe see Descartes’ doctrine. We know, on the one hand, that it is a dualism and,on the other, that it is a mechanicism. However, we seldom consider the factthat this combination is at odds with our current philosophical mores. Thecontemporary dualist is usually an anti-mechanicist and the contemporarymechanicist is usually an anti-dualist. This paper offers a revision of Descartes’main works in an attempt to render intelligible to contemporary readers a doctrinal combination the shocking nature of which we do not perceive for the solefact that we tend to maintain its diverse parts in separate compartments. Theproposed revision by the way shows us that Descartes is a much more interestingand rich author than what ordinary clichés let us perceive. Thus for example, aserious consideration of Descartes�...