Cattedra Rotelli

Reconsidering Descartes' Cartesianism – Subjectivity, Infinity and Value in Descartes' Philosophy

8–10 March 2023
 

The seventh edition of the Rotelli Lectures at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University welcomed Jean-Luc Marion, French philosopher and one of the leading scholars of René Descartes' thought, for a series of three lectures entitled Reconsidering Descartes' Cartesianism.

Through a critical reassessment of Cartesian philosophy, Marion explored the foundations of modern subjectivity, questioning the traditional understanding of the self as an autonomous and self-sufficient principle of knowledge. The lectures examined the relationship between thought, infinity and value, offering new perspectives on the philosophical and ethical implications of Descartes' work.

The three lectures focused on a reinterpretation of Descartes' philosophy, challenging approaches that reduce Cartesianism to the certainty of the thinking subject and the foundations of knowledge.

The series began with an examination of "ego sum", exploring the nature of the Cartesian self and questioning the idea of a completely autonomous and self-sufficient subject. From this perspective, Marion investigated the complexity of modern subjectivity, highlighting how the nature of the self cannot be understood solely through the act of thinking.

The discussion then turned to the relationship between the subject and infinity, examining the role of transcendence in Cartesian philosophy. The encounter with infinity was explored as a fundamental element in understanding the limits of the self's autonomy and its openness to a dimension that extends beyond self-knowledge.

The final lecture addressed the transition from knowledge to value, exploring the ethical and moral implications of Cartesian thought. The discussion highlighted how the investigation of subjectivity extends beyond the search for epistemic certainty, raising questions about personhood, otherness and the meaning of human action.

Bringing together the history of modern philosophy, metaphysics and moral philosophy, the series offered a renewed perspective on Cartesianism, emphasising the central role of infinity, transcendence and value in understanding the subject and its relationship with others.

Program

• 8 March – Ego sum and what it isn’t
  15.00 – 17.30 (CET)
  Discussant: Massimo Donà
• 9 March – The path to infinity
  11.00 – 13.30 (CET) / 15.00 – 17.30 (CET)
  Discussant: Alfredo Gatto
• 10 March – From knowledge to value
  11.00 – 13.30 (CET) / 15.00 – 17.30 (CET)
  Discussant: Roberto Mordacci

The philosophical questions explored throughout the lecture series are further developed in Ripensare il Cartesianesimo di Descartes. Lezioni milanesi per la Cattedra Rotelli (Mimesis, 2025), which examines the nature of Cartesian subjectivity, its relationship with divine otherness and the ethical implications of thought, offering a reassessment of Cartesianism beyond the boundaries of epistemology.