Theology and the Cartesian doctrine of freedom
Book Description
In this groundbreaking scholarly work, renowned philosopher Étienne Gilson unveils the hidden medieval foundations that shaped René Descartes' revolutionary thinking about human freedom and divine providence. Originally written as Gilson's doctoral thesis, this study challenges the common assumption that Descartes emerged from an intellectual vacuum, instead revealing how his Jesuit education at La Flèche profoundly influenced his philosophical development.
Gilson meticulously traces how the young Descartes absorbed Scholastic philosophy through his instructor François Véron, whose aggressive theological debates and eventual departure from the Jesuits may have sparked Descartes' later resistance to traditional philosophical methods. Yet beneath this apparent rejection lay deeper continuities with medieval thought that would fundamentally shape Descartes' approach to questions of free will and divine action.
The book illuminates Descartes' delicate navigation through the turbulent religious controversies of his era as he sought to establish metaphysical foundations for his revolutionary physics. Presenting himself as a faithful Catholic while maintaining careful distance from technical theological disputes, Descartes crafted a vision of God and human freedom that would transform Western philosophy.
For readers exploring the intersection of faith and reason, this work offers profound insights into how spiritual traditions evolve and adapt across centuries. Gilson demonstrates that even the most innovative thinkers remain connected to ancient wisdom traditions in ways that continue to influence our understanding of human agency and divine purpose.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~9 hours)
📄 Length: 331 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Theology
- ✓ Explore Theology, doctrinal, history, 17th century
- ✓ Explore Free will and determinism
- ✓ Explore Christian sects
- ✓ Explore Descartes, rene, 1596-1650
- ✓ Explore RELIGION / Theology
- ✓ Explore timeless philosophical wisdom
- ✓ Explore RELIGION
