It is apparent that Descartes often presented theories as his own work that were actually based on his reading of prior authors, and it can be inferred that Descartes omission of such acknowledgements was deliberate. I will cite a variety of such instances.
I am particularly interested in his pineal gland theory, which I will demonstrate as being copied from the earlier theory of Costa ben Luca (AKA Qusta ibn Luqa of Baalbeck), unacknowledged by Descartes. Whether this lack of acknowledgment was in oversight or deliberate will be further discussed.
I shall also show that Descartes was widely regarded amongst his contemporaries as being an occultist, and will look in some detail at astrological and esoteric aspects of his writings.
Finally, I shall contrast MVT with the traditional, 'received' occult philosophy of the "third" eye. This received view encapsulates the ideas of Ancient Egypt, Galen, Costa ben Luca, Descartes, and in more recent times by Madam Blavatsky and the Theosophists. Some extracts from my forthcoming book of ‘World Third Eye Mythologies’ are included in this section.
It appears that Descartes wished to decide all questions of physics and metaphysics without much caring if he was right (Letter - Huygens to Leibniz, 11 July 1692)
But no one ventured to order all natural science on new principles except René Descartes,” who started in relation as if no one had treated physics before” (Paschius).
More to follow .........
The Occult Philosophy of Rene Descartes
