The Mystical Dreams of Descartes - Exploring the Origins of Rationalism and Modernity

In this episode we explore the non-rational origins of rationalism by investigating a series of dreams had by Rene Descartes - thought to have founded rationalism and modern philosophy - on the night of November 10/11, 1619. Early in his career Descartes, like many intellectuals of his day, was searching for new intellectual and scientific foundations as the worldview provided by Aristotle had become moribund. In this search, Descartes explores many avenues for the truth from strict logic to mystical Rosicrucianism. In this context, he experiences a profound fit of 'enthusiasm' and has a series of three dreams which ground and propel his own foundationalist project. This episode explores how the origins of rationalism and modernity are simply more esoteric, even mystical, than we typically learn in intellectual history or philosophy classes.

Recommended Readings:

John Cottingham - The Philosophical Writings of Descartes in 3 vols.
William Shea - Descartes and the Rosicrucian Enlightenment - Metaphysics and Philosophy of Science in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries, Pages 73-99
Frances A. Yates - The Rosicrucian Enlightenment, pgs 113 et passim

#descartes #philosophy #rationalism

[TheEsotericaChannel]

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[danterosati]

excellent! Jeff Kripal's recent book "The Flip" is all about scientists and philosophers who had some kind of mystical or "paranormal" experience that influenced their worldview and work. He also is always mentioning how after he gives presentations as universities, professors who would never admit the paranormal into their professional life come to him afterwards or over a beer and always have some story to tell him about their brush with the mystery. It's funny how public intellectual culture maintains this strict persona of materialism when behind the scenes almost no one is actually a materialist lol.

[oliver_siegel]

Makes me think of the Einstein quotes "logic will take you from A to B, imagination will take you anywhere" and "imagination is more important than knowledge"

[paulshaddix]

I know you get tired of this...your lectures are refreshingly well paced and informative..no clowining around...very good and thank you for your balance...thank you

[drangelaroothaan]

I just included this episode in my first year bachelor course "Diversifying Philosophy". It worked very well to show the students the exclusions that are generally made in the philosophy curriculum. Thanks for your valuable work!

[owenaster]

Descartes’ “enthusiasm” sounds a bit like one of my manic episodes (including vivid dreams). I know it’s probably a separate phenomenon, since most manic episodes don’t result in a revolutionary new philosophy, but there could be some kind of link between this old emotion and what we now call bipolar manic episodes.

[noonecook]

Love these videos...watch nightly before bed.

[Tarnbar]

One of the best videos so far. Love Descartes and love black metal

[Akamaholic]

Would have never guessed Dr. Sledge is a black metal fan 🤘🤘

[j.t.bundick]

Thank you for this! I have heard Terrence McKenna talk briefly about Descartes dreams in one of his bardic lectures, but not to the degree you have here. It is a beautifully crafted wrench to throw into the machine of atheistic scientism.

[jlzzrec]

My new favorite channel.
Please keep doing what you do!!

Oh and I read in my dreams quite often, so I believe it's a myth which causes those who believe it to fulfill it!
I was reading in dreams before I was exposed to this myth, thankfully, so I dismiss it.
It's not always intelligible, sometimes it's a string of seemingly random words, but at the very worst, it's still words, and that's the rare "worst".
I don't know what people that believe they cannot read in dreams claim to happen when they try to read, so I give you my raw experience.

[jameshopkins]

Yes, one can read inside a dream (sometimes). Reading inside a dream is one of the criteria I use to determine if I am lucid dreaming or not. I have often read things in my dreams but sometimes for whatever reason I can not.

[xavierinthetube]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, I can't thank you enough to put this properly into words on top of the wonderful research.

[thatworksmedia]

This is truly fascinating! I see Descartes in a whole new light.

[ntrcnnctr]

32:24 love it! everything has its Rhythm

[ZeroCal]

"We doubt our way to the truth." Damn right.

[ktkatte]

had experiences like this; can confirm you can read in certain types of dreams. not all dreams, but spiritually significant ones are different. wildly so.

[scantronbeats]

I first heard about these dreams from Terence McKenna lectures where he said Descartes had a dream where an angel told him "The conquest of nature is to be achieved through measure and number.” I used to repeat this story until I saw this video now and researched a bit more that McKenna had invented aspects of his story or misremembered and that based on the period evidence there was a different nuance to the details.

[NullStaticVoid]

the description of enthusiasm has me thinking of "fire in the head" as described by some religious and mystical sources. I've experienced this while meditating and while playing music a few times. It's like the top of your head opens up. And in the case of playing music, time dilates.
The band Killing Joke, who are so into esotericism they found 2 of their band members with a spell, describe such an experience during one of their performances in the movie "The Death and Resurrection Show".


PS Wolves in the Throneroom! Saw them years ago. Great band. Furious!

[santiagocernasalcedo]

I simply love your channel...wish you the best.