Ryan and Todd discuss Descartes' 'Discourse on the Method', exploring radical doubt, the influence of 'I think therefore I am', the debate between 'I think therefore I am' and 'I am thinking therefore I exist', animal ethics, the difference between humans and animals, Descartes, Sartre, and Lacan's views on subjectivity, and the comparison of Blade Runner to cartesian text in cinema.
Radical doubt forms the foundation of Descartes' philosophy, promoting autonomous thinking and independent knowledge.
Descartes challenges hierarchical structures and advocates for universal equality, emphasizing the power of individual thought.
Descartes' limited perspective on animals fails to acknowledge their complexity and raises ethical concerns in relation to contemporary understandings of animal consciousness and welfare.
Deep dives
The importance of radical doubt and individual thinking in Descartes' philosophy
Descartes emphasizes the significance of radical doubt and the autonomy of individual thinking in his philosophical approach. He advocates for doubting everything and relying on one's own thoughts as the foundation of knowledge, independent of external authority or tradition. By starting from a position of radical doubt, Descartes aims to establish a universal method that allows for the shared experience of doubt and the quest for truth.
The concept of universal equality and its implications in Descartes' philosophy
Descartes also promotes the concept of universal equality in his discourse. He argues that regardless of one's background or intellectual level, everyone possesses equal potential for rational thought and understanding. Descartes seeks to challenge hierarchical structures and emphasizes the equality of all individuals in their ability to engage in independent thinking and arrive at truths through the power of their own minds.
Controversial views on animals and the limitations of Descartes' equality principle
However, Descartes' views on animals have been met with criticism. He compares animals to machines, lacking consciousness and reducing them to mere mechanisms. This stance fails to acknowledge the complexity, emotions, and capacity for suffering that animals possess. While Descartes highlights the importance of universal equality among humans, his limited perspective on animals raises ethical concerns and does not align with contemporary understandings of animal consciousness and welfare.
The Importance of Language and Translation
In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss the significance of language and translation in philosophical works. They examine Descartes' famous statement 'Cogito, ergo sum' and its variations in different languages. They note how the original French version differs from the commonly known Latin translation and highlight the potential loss of meaning and accessibility when translations prioritize literal accuracy over the intended spirit of the text. The hosts argue that using one's own language to quote philosophical concepts can help keep the ideas accessible and relatable to a wider audience.
Descartes' Philosophy and Psychoanalysis
The hosts explore how Descartes' philosophy intersects with psychoanalysis. They focus on the concept of subjectivity and the question of existence. While Descartes starts with the assumption of a thinking subject, they discuss how psychoanalysis introduces the idea of a 'minus one' and the importance of acknowledging the unconscious. They suggest that Descartes' inability to consider the unconscious and the concept of lack hinders his philosophy and prevents him from fully realizing the implications of subjectivity. Additionally, the hosts draw parallels between Descartes' ideas and the themes presented in the movie 'Blade Runner,' emphasizing the significance of subjectivity in both philosophy and cinema.
Ryan and Todd examine perhaps the founding text of modern Western philosophy--Rene Descartes' Discourse on the Method. They consider how Descartes articulates an egalitarian philosophy through his conception of radical doubt and examine the influence of this text of subsequent thinkers and on theory today.
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