Descartes key terms

Epistemology

study of knowledge

Modes

forms of writing

adventitious

(adj.) resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential; (medicine) acquired, not congenital

Sophistry

(n.) reasoning that seems plausible but is actually unsound; a fallacy

Rationalism

A belief or theory that opinions and actions should be based on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response

Skepticism

A philosophy which suggests that nothing can ever be known for certain.

Substance

A single kind of matter that is pure and has a specific set of properties.

Cartesian Dualism

Descartes's view that all of reality could ultimately be reduced to mind and matter.

apathy

a lack of feeling, emotion, or interest