We have discussed philosophers, including Descartes. See Philosophy And SF here. However, I am at a loss for the meaning of the following passage. Joelle the holothete thinks:
"I dare not admit Descartes (as a maker of symbols which have no more scientific meaning left in them than does the Day of Judgment) was wrong."
-Poul Anderson, The Avatar, XXXIII, p. 286.
Joelle did make at least one earlier reference to Descartes. Maybe, if I find and reread that, then it will shed some light on this? Although I am immersed in the text, it remains a vast unknown realm.
Looking for the earlier Descartes reference, I am reminded that the linker, Eric, quotes from the Rubaiyat (scroll down):
"Why, if the Soul can fling the Dust aside..." (XXIII, p. 203)
I should have referred to that earlier. We might some time pull together all the Rubaiyat quotations and references.
Kaor, Paul!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure this portrait of Descartes can fairly be said to make him look supercilious. What I thought was Descartes looked grave, serious, restrained.
Sean