The Motif of Machine in Descartes' Metaphysics

The master's thesis discusses basic elements of metaphysics by René Descartes. The first part of the thesis focuses on his personal life because certain events shaped and influenced his further actions and ideas. To understand the context of time, the paper presents history knowledge that is relevant to the topic. René Descartes is still known today for his philosophical ideas which helped to develop findings in the field of metaphysics. During his lifetime, that is the first half of the 17th century, natural sciences were gaining in popularity. The thesis follows up with mathematization and geometrization of nature. Descartes' basic premise of knowledge is methodical skepticism which ultimately results in his first personal certainty of philosophy. Next part focuses on the clarification of the dualistic concept of two different substances - rez extensa and res cogitans. The largest and most important part deals with the mechanical conception of the human body. René Descartes believes that the human body is a machine operated by mechanical principles. The thesis introduces a systematic description of the body which logically justifies the primary ideas of this French philosopher. KEYWORDS René Descartes, methaphysics, dualism, mind, body, God, machine, mathematics, geometr