Descartes' Nightmare

Abstract

In the present paper we argue that in the core of the writing -and the passion- of that essential philosopher of Modernity that was Descartes occurs, literally, a nightmare. And we also maintain that the nature of this nightmare allows us to elucidate the contradiction that is present in the expression "modern subject".

To do this, we proceed to an analysis of the main lines of Cartesian philosophy: it’s radical criticism of previous philosophies, it’s willingness to construct a scientific method, the relegation of mathematics and geometry to disciplines of reference that are robbed of any significant autonomy or productivity, the role of doubt and the negative force that characterizes it, the construction of a model of the subject conceived as a machine of intelligibility...

Finally, we analyze the famous dream of Descartes as a nightmare directly linked to the evolution of his philosophy wich reveals as much about the dramatic personal experience of the philosopher as the impasses of the contemporary subject.