John Cottingham - The Philosophical Writings of Descartes Volume I

The Philosophical Writings of
Descartes

VOLUME I

These two volumes provide a completely new translation of the philosophical works of Descartes, based on the best available Latin and French texts. They are intended to replace the only reasonably comprehensive selection of his works in English, by Haldane and Ross, first published in 1911. All the works included in that edition are translated here, together with a number of additional texts crucial for an understanding of Cartesian philosophy, including important material from Descartes scientific writings. The result should meet the widespread demand for an accurate and authoritative edition of Descartes philosophical writings in clear and readable modern English.

Contents

VOLUME ONE

General Introduction

Chronological Table

Early Writings

Rules for the Direction of the Mind

The World

Treatise on Man

Discourse on the Method

Optics

Principles of Philosophy

Comments on a Certain Broadsheet

Description of the Human Body

The Passions of the Soul

Index

VOLUME TWO

General Introduction

Chronological Table

Meditations on First Philosophy

Objections and Replies

Letter to Father Dinet

The Search for Truth

Index

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Cambridge University Press 1985

This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.

First published 1985

21st printing 2009

A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978-0-521-28807-1 Paperback

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The aim of this two-volume edition is to provide a completely new translation of the philosophical writings of Descartes, based on the original Latin and French texts. Although many of Descartes philosophical works are now available in English either individually or in various selections, the only tolerably comprehensive edition remains that of Haldane and Ross, which first appeared in 1911. But as well as including all the works to be found in Haldane and Ross, viz. the Discourse on the Method, Meditations, Objections and Replies, Rules for the Direction of the Mind, The Search for Truth, Comments on a Certain Broadsheet, The Passions of the Soul and selections from the Principles of Philosophy, we have also provided extracts from Descartes Early Writings, from The World, Treatise on Man, Optics and Description of the Human Body; our selection from the Principles, moreover, includes many articles not translated in Haldane and Ross. In general, we have construed the term philosophical in a fairly generous way, so as to include, as well as Descartes more celebrated metaphysical and epistemological works, a fair selection of his scientific writings (on physiology, psychology, physics and cosmology), which are likely to be of interest to students of philosophy and allied disciplines.

Descartes wrote with equal fluency in Latin and French, and published in both languages; within his lifetime some of his Latin works were subsequently translated into French, and some of his French works into Latin. Our own translations of Descartes works are made, in each case, from the original language in which they were composed (for further details see translators prefaces to the individual works). Where subsequent translations approved by Descartes provide important additional material, this has also been translated, but in footnotes or within diamond brackets <...>, to distinguish it from the original material. We have thus firmly rejected the practice of Haldane and Ross, whose translation, e.g. in the case of the Meditations and Principles, is based on an uneasy amalgam of the original Latin and later French editions, with the result that the reader is frequently left in the dark as to whether a given rendering corresponds to Descartes original words or to the formulation of one of his contemporary translators.

We have endeavoured to make our translations as accurate as possible, while at the same time attempting to produce readable modern English. Where Descartes employs technical terms which are now obsolete (e.g. objective reality) or uses expressions which are liable to cause difficulty to the modern student, we have supplied explanatory footnotes. But apart from this, we have tried to make the translations stand on their own feet. Often we have found that the choice of a particular English word or phrase hinges on a complex chain of philosophical argument which it it is impossible to summarize adequately in a brief footnote; to do justice to the issues involved would have required a formidable exegetical apparatus which would greatly have reduced the space available for presenting Descartes own writings. We have also rejected the device, used sporadically by Haldane and Ross and others, of inserting unexplained original Latin or French phrases when the translation is difficult or problematical; such a proceeding merely tends to puzzle the reader having no French or Latin, and is of doubtful value to those who are able to consult the original texts for themselves. In cases where we have found it necessary to refer to Latin or French terms in our footnotes, we have always explained their meaning.

In dividing the material between the two volumes, we have decided to place the Meditations and the Objections and Replies together, since they are interconnected in the closest possible way, and were originally published by Descartes as a single book. These works comprise the bulk of Volume Two; also included is The Search for Truth, whose exact date is uncertain but which was probably composed in the same period as the Meditations, and deals with many of the same themes. Volume One contains all the remaining works, arranged in chronological order. Each work is preceded by an introductory note giving details of its composition and original publication. Comprehensive philosophical indexes are included at the end of each volume, and each volume also contains a brief chronological table of Descartes life and works.

Our translations are based on the texts to be found in the standard twelve-volume edition of Descartes works by Adam and Tannery (known as AT). We have, however, consulted many other editions, and where these have been of particular value they are mentioned in the prefaces to individual works. Important departures from the text in AT are recorded in footnotes. Where the text is abridged, omitted material is indicated by dots, thus ..., and further information is supplied in a footnote. For each work we have supplied, in the margins, running cross-references to the page number of the relevant volume of AT. It should be noted that, unless otherwise indicated, all comments in footnotes are those of the translators, not of Descartes.