HoP 469 Ghost in the Machine: Cartesian Dualism

HoP 469 Ghost in the Machine: Cartesian Dualism

Author: Peter Adamson May 11, 2025 Duration: 24:30

The word “Cartesian” is synonymous with a radical contrast between mind and body. What led Descartes to his dualism, and how can he explain vital activities in humans and animals having rejected the Aristotelian theory of soul?


Peter Adamson, Professor of Philosophy at the LMU in Munich and at King’s College London, takes listeners through the history of philosophy, ”without any gaps.” The series looks at the ideas, lives and historical context of the major philosophers as well as the lesser-known figures of the tradition. www.historyofphilosophy.net. NOTE: iTunes shows only the most recent 300 episodes; subscribe on iTunes or go to a different platform for the whole series.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 497

History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps
Podcast Episodes
HoP 459 - Cardinal Rule - Robert Bellarmine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:36
Though most famous for his role in persecuting Galileo, Robert Bellarmine was a central figure of the Counter-Reformation, especially in his political thought.
HoP 458 - Outsider Philosophy - The Cheese and the Worms [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:15
Carlo Ginzburg’s innovative historical study The Cheese and the Worms looks at the ideas of an obscure 16th century miller, suggesting how popular culture might be integrated into the history of philosophy.