HoP 479 Gideon Manning on Cartesian Medicine

In this book, Damasio argues that emotions are essential to rational thinking and normal social behavior. He challenges René Descartes' mind-body dualism by presenting case studies, particularly the famous case of Phineas Gage, to demonstrate how brain damage can affect decision-making and personality. Damasio introduces the 'somatic marker hypothesis,' which posits that emotions guide behavior and decision-making, and that rationality requires emotional input. The book is divided into three parts, exploring case studies, explanations for the effects of brain injuries, and testing the somatic marker hypothesis.

Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.

Published in 1637, 'Discourse on the Method' is a seminal work by René Descartes that outlines his philosophical and scientific method. The book is divided into six parts and addresses various topics including skepticism, the existence of God and the human soul, and the distinction between the mind and body. Descartes introduces his famous statement 'I think, therefore I am' and lays the groundwork for modern Western philosophy and the scientific method. The work also discusses his approach to morality and the investigation of natural phenomena, influencing disciplines from philosophy to psychology and cognitive science.

René Descartes' "Treatise of Man" is a philosophical work exploring the mechanics of the human body. Descartes posits the body as a complex machine governed by natural laws, distinct from the soul or mind. He describes various physiological processes, including sensation, movement, and digestion, as functions of this intricate mechanism. The treatise reflects Descartes' broader mechanistic view of nature, seeking to explain phenomena through physical principles. Although incomplete during his lifetime, it provides insights into his dualistic philosophy and his attempt to reconcile science and metaphysics. The work remains influential in the history of science and philosophy, shaping subsequent understandings of the body-mind relationship.