Squaring the Circle in Descartes` Meditations : The Strong Validation of Reason / Stephen I. Wagner

includes index and biblioraphy

1. A proposal for achieving the Strong Validation of Reason ...........1 A problem pointing to a Solution ...........3 The historical background of Descartes project ...........17 Explaining descartes Silence ............24 Two Cautious Responses ................33 An Interpretive Approach .............35 2. The Experiential Method of Demonstration ..............38 The Meditations as Cognitive Exercises............38 Reason and Experience........41 A continuous line of Discovery - three Experiences of Causal Power ........44 3. Meditation I - Experiencing the Causal power of the Imagination ............48 Announcing the goal ............49 The arguments for doubt...........51 The transition to the experiential methods of Demonstration ..........66 Imagining the demon-Doubting previous beliefs..........67 4. Meditation II - Experiencing the Causal power of the Intellect ........75 Announcing the Goal .........75 The stage two arguments .........78 The Transition to stage three...........86 Investigating the wax- Discovering the essence and existence of the mind .................86 5. Meditation III- Experiencing the causal power of God .......120 Stage one - raising doubts and Announcing the goal ..........120 The stage two arguments.......135 The transition to stage three.........158 Proving the existence of God ..........160 Resolving a Tension - Descartes Letter to Silhon .......188 6. Meditation IV- Eliminating error .......196 Announcing the goals ......197 The stage two arguments ........200 The transition to stage three..............204 The Stage three Cognitive exercise- Completing the validation project .........224