Descartes' World of Bodies Minds and Freewill

Suitable for beginners, this presentation introduces modern metaphysics in the theories of the grandfather of modern philosophy. The material covered is in fact a good introduction to both modern philosophy and metaphysics. Issues discussed include free will, innate ideas and the essences of mind and matter. It also introduces the famous “Cartesian Dualism” of a connection between mind and body.

0:00 Introduction
0:59 Free will
3:26 Innate ideas
5:20 Free will and God
7:15 Substances
8:32 Clear and distinct ideas
10:10 Thought and extension
18:19 Rarefaction and quantity
22:05 Space and place
25:27 The mathematical goal
26:33 No vacuum
28:30 Invisible particles
30:12 No atoms or celestial matter
32:21 Critical interlude
35:46 The big question
37:45 Animal spirits
40:36 Pineal gland
45:19 Final comment