Life as "Self- Motion": Descartes and "The Aristotelians" on the Soul as the Life of the Body

摘要: DESCARTES'S ARGUMENTS THAT THE BODY can be considered a self-propelled machine rely on misuse of the Aristotelian concept "self-motion." They depend upon premise that life is self-motion, definition which Descartes learned from Latin handbooks at La Fleche. By retaining this premise, believed he was defeating Aristotelians their own turf when argued soul unnecessary for explaining functions (self-motion). However, his arguments fail to establish what intended them to, because whereas Aristotle meant capacity self-induced alteration (qualitative motion), interpreted "self-motion" as reference local motions constitutive parts body. That misunderstanding, and not simply disagreement with Aristotle's meaning, demonstrated Meditations, Discourse, Treatise Man, Passions Soul, The World, letters. Owing misinterpretation, never actually addressed theory, so physics leaves unresolved problem able solve by positing body, namely: Why do some things metabolize, but others not? Surprisingly, these points have yet been made. Though Des Chene has recently drawn attention question "life" in Descartes, noticed this. (1) Michael Frede noted point view, Descartes's conception mind "fundamentally mistaken it does even try explain an organism, since rests assumption ordinary be, explained terms matter its properties," (2) though without observing relies makes about matter. other secondary literature focused questions body--soul dualism immortality rather than life. (3) It true day, accused "withholding life" animals, (4) objected "movements" animals were too complex soul; (5) precise account pinpointed. As I shall demonstrate, overlooked or shared all contemporary objectors record: Gassendi, Mersenne, Bourdin, More, Fromondus. This latter fact indicates serious weakness least pedagogy, perhaps also actual understanding Aristotle, faculties western Europe beginning seventeenth century. Self-Motion Texts Commentaries Descartes. In letter Mersenne 1640, mentioned among philosophical texts studied Fleche, especially remembered those Jesuits Coimbra (hereafter referred Conimbricenses), Spanish Jesuit Toletus. (6) Conimbricenses' first published 1592 1602; Toletus 1572. These commentaries works philosophy curriculum schools almost exclusively (7)--though made (for example, Plato, Albert Great, Aquinas, Averroes, Cajetan). (8) Natural taught second year. (9) Thus we confidently conclude Aristotle's--as presented commentaries--and If turn now themselves, find commentary Physics defines follows: "to move oneself immediately principal cause one's motion proper office (movere se simpliciter et ut principalem sui motus causam est proprium munus vitae). (10) same passage, shorthand way referring characteristic living given, namely "self-motion," sese movere. …