Single Idea 7504

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / B. History of Ideas / 5. Later European Thought]

Full Idea

Before Descartes, one could not be impure, immoral, and know the truth. After Descartes, direct evidence is enough, and we have a nonascetic subject of knowledge; this change makes possible the institutionalisation of modern science.

Clarification

'Nonascetic' means self-discipline is not required

Gist of Idea

Modern science comes from Descartes' view that knowledge doesn't need moral purity

Source

report of René Descartes (Meditations [1641]) by Michel Foucault - On the Genealogy of Ethics

Book Reference

Foucault,Michel: 'Essential Works 1954-1984 I: Ethics', ed/tr. Rabinow,Paul [Penguin 1994], p.279


A Reaction

I would have thought Gassendi and the British Empiricists would be a more plausible source for this shift of attitude. Plato would relegate modern science to a lower level of knowledge.