“Having true philosophers is the greatest good that can happen to a State.” The political dimension in Descartes' philosophy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3989/isegoria.2024.71.1595Keywords:
René Descartes, moral, politics, individual reform, René Descartes, moral, politics, individual reform, social reformAbstract
This paper proposes how the existence of a Cartesian policy can be affirmed. From the analysis of three texts (the Letter-preface to The Principles of Philosophy and two of the letters addressed to Elisabeth of Bohemia) it is concluded that, although there is no room for politics within the Cartesian system, philosophy and politics cannot be separated. On the one hand, the highest achievement of philosophy, Morals, has a clear social projection, and in political practice the individual continues to be a moral subject, so that individual reform opens the way to social reform. On the other hand, philosophy needs politics to unfold, since, although philosophy is primarily an individual practice, true philosophy must be institutionalized, since it presents truths that surpass the individual dimension.
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Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
Grant numbers PID2021-12612333NB-100
