What is it about?
René Descartes showed that early attachments to the maternal body largely determined how affects and desires were formed in the adult. In this way, he also formulated theories of repression reminiscent of those of Freud. This aspect of Descartes' though also serves to challenge standard views of his metaphysical dualism.
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Why is it important?
The standard view of Descartes as a metaphysical dualist is modified by texts attended to in this article. Instead, Descartes comes across as a thinker of affects and emotions, raising issues that today are of concern to psychoanalysis as well as the neurosciences.
Perspectives
Writing this article made me discover the universe of 17th century thought, and the rich debates concerned with the cogito that are of concern to us still today,
cecilia sjöholm
Sodertorns hogskola
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This page is a summary of: The Thinking Fetus: Descartes at the Brink of Psychoanalysis, Emotions History Culture Society, December 2021, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/2208522x-02010129.
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