Ancient vs Moderns

The Human Soul, Ancient and Modern: A Reading of Descartes Meditations and Aristotle’s de Anima 

Descartes is the acknowledged leader of the revolution in self-understanding that brought into being the modern era. In addition to making vital contributions to the new mathematical physics, Descartes established the new understanding of human nature and non-human nature that required a science that can conquer nature for the sake of human health and utility. Almost all later thought, even when it critiques Descartes and modernity, does so on his new basis. The risk posed by the new technological science include the subjection of human nature itself as an object of the new sciences, a danger we are seeing come to fruition in recent medical, technological and political developments. 

Descartes’ main opponent in the Meditations is Aristotle. We will consider Aristotle’s description in de Anima of the classical principles of human nature and its awareness of nature as a whole. Our aim will be to understand what is illuminating and valuable, and what can no longer be maintained in each perspective.