POLEMICS OF HOBBES AGAINST DESCARTES IN THE CONTEXT OF ‘PYRRHONICAL CRISIS’ OF THE LATE ХVІ – FIRST HALF OF ХVІІ CENTURIES

Abstract

The article analyzes one of the events in the polemics around Descartes’ ‘Meditationes’, where Hobbes subjects Cartesian philosophical grounds to sceptical criticism. If Descartes regards scepticism as situated at the next level below his own anti-sceptical philosophy, Hobbes, by his criticism against Descartes, actually restores scepticism as the leading intellectual streamline of that time. Thus, Hobbes endeavours to construct his own philosophical positions within the framework of the all-European “Pyrrhonical crisis”, whereas Descartes looks for the way out of it. References 1. Hobbes Th. Leviathan, with selected variants from the Latin edition of 1668 / Hobbes Th. [edited, with introduction and notes, by Edwin Curley]. – Indianapolis: Hackett Pub. Co., 1994. 2. Paganini G. Hobbes among ancient and modern sceptics: phenomena and bodies / Paganini G. // The Return of Scepticism from Hobbes and Descartes to Bayle. Dortrecht, Boston, London: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2003. – P. 3-35. 3. Popkin R. H. The History of Scepticism from Erasmus to Spinoza / Popkin R. H. – Berkeley, Los Angeles, London: University of California Press, 1979. 4. Descartes R. Meditationes de Prima Philosophia / Descartes R. // Oevres de Descartes / publiées par Charles Adam et Paul Tannery. – Vol. VII. – Paris: Librarie Philosophique J. Vrin, 1964.