DESCARTES - MAN

<BODY> <CENTER><FONT SIZE=5><B><FONT SIZE=6>DESCARTES</FONT><BR> THE RATIONALIST</B></FONT></CENTER><P> <FONT SIZE=4><B>Man</B></FONT><P> <FONT SIZE=4><B>RATIONAL MAN</B></FONT><BR> What distinguishes man is his ability to think. Man is an incorporeal mind housed in a physical body. Descartes' separation of mind and body has led to the criticism that his vision of man is that of "the ghost in the machine". But there can be little doubt that Descartes saw his new understanding as a glorification of humanity. Copernicus new vision of the universe had removed earth from the centre of the universe. This had required Man to redefine his own role in the scheme of things. Descartes placed man firmly at the centre of God's creation as a being superior to all other life forms.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>"I am a substance the whole nature or essence of which is to think, and which for its existence does not need any place nor depend on any material thing."<P> ("Discourse" Part IV)</BLOCKQUOTE> <BR clear=left><BR> <HR width=100%> <A HREF="http://www.creatorix.com.au"><IMG SRC="../creatorix.gif" WIDTH="85" HEIGHT="40" BORDER="0" ALT="Creatorix" align=right></A> </BODY>