The Matter of Mind

Reason and Experience in the Age of Descartes

Christopher Braider author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:University of Toronto Press

Published:14th Jan '12

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

The Matter of Mind cover

What influence did René Descartes' concept of mind-body dualism have on early modern conceptions of the self? In The Matter of Mind, Christopher Braider challenges the presumed centrality of Descartes' groundbreaking theory to seventeenth-century French culture. He details the broad opposition to rational self-government among Descartes' contemporaries, and attributes conventional links between Descartes and the myth of the ‘modern subject’ to post-structuralist assessments.

The Matter of Mind presents studies drawn from a range of disciplines and examines the paintings of Nicolas Poussin, the drama of Pierre Corneille, and the theology of Blaise Pascal. Braider argues that if early modern thought converged on a single model, then it was the experimental picture based on everyday experience proposed by Descartes' sceptical adversary, Michel de Montaigne. Forceful and provocative, The Matter of Mind will encourage lively debate on the norms and discourses of seventeenth-century philosophy.

‘All of them [readers] will most likely be impressed with the intellectual range and critical acumen displayed by Braider throughout this highly stimulating study.’ -- Edward Ousselin * French Studies, vol 66:04:2012 *

‘This book is a thought provoking contribution to early modern French studies.’

-- Paul Scott * French Review vol 88:02:2014 *

  • Winner of MLA Aldo and Jeanne Scaglione Prize for French and Francophone Studies 2013 (United States)

ISBN: 9781442643482

Dimensions: 236mm x 160mm x 29mm

Weight: 680g

296 pages