Representative Idea as Divine Gift. A Theological Ambiguity of Malebranche’s Theory of Knowledge

Ph.D. Cristian Moisuc
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Ph.D. Cristian Moisuc: Scientific Researcher at the Faculty of Philosophy and Social and Political Sciences, University Al. I. Cuza – Iasi, Romania

Conferinta Stiintifica Internationala Logos Universalitate Mentalitate Educatie Noutate - Lumen International Scientific Conference Logos Universality Mentality Education Novelty, 2011, vol. 1, 113

Abstract: In Descartes's posterity, his followers have claimed each one that his interpretation of the status of idea (an inherent modality – Arnauld, or an external reality of cogito – Malebranche) is the most “proper”. Malebranche’s theory of the vision of ideas in Good seems to be an ingenious but not less problematic effort to address the uncertainties in the Second Cartesian Meditation. This solution, however, requires the reinterpretation of the Cartesian concept of "clarity". In order to be “clear”, an idea should be “close”, as close as possible to the soul. The idea should even “touch” the soul. How the “remote” idea does “approach” and “touch” the soul? How is possible to think the original “remoteness” of the idea? We intend to emphasize and to analyze some theological presuppositions that make the Malebranche’s theory of knowledge ambiguous.

Keywords: cogito; the transcendental distance; representation; remoteness; divine Word (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A23 Y8 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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