Elisabeth–Descartes correspondence

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The Elisabeth–Descartes correspondence is a series of 17th-century letters between Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia and René Descartes that probe and challenge the foundations of his metaphysics, especially the mind–body relationship.

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Predicate Object
instanceOf epistolary work
philosophical correspondence
primary source in early modern philosophy
associatedWithPerson Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia
linked to: Elizabeth Stuart

Frederick V of the Palatinate
associatedWithPlace Dutch Republic
The Hague
century 17th century
challengedViewOf Cartesian account of mind–body interaction
containsWork letters on moral guidance
letters on the passions
letters on the union of mind and body
correspondents Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia
René Descartes
dateRange 1643–1649
earliestLettersDate 1643
historicalContext Thirty Years' War aftermath
exile of the Palatinate royal family
includesTheme emotional regulation
freedom and determinism
limits of metaphysical explanation
practical application of philosophy to life
role of the body in cognition
virtue and happiness
initiatedBy Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia
language French
Latin
latestLettersDate 1649
mainTopic causal interaction between mind and body
ethics
metaphysics
mind–body problem
moral psychology
nature of the soul
passions of the soul
practical philosophy
philosophicallySignificantFor critique of Cartesian dualism
development of Descartes' account of the passions
early feminist history of philosophy
interpretation of Descartes' metaphysics
philosophicalTradition Cartesianism
early modern rationalism
preservedIn various 17th-century manuscript collections
relatedWork Meditations on First Philosophy
Passions of the Soul
respondent René Descartes
sourceFor Descartes' later revisions on the passions
studiedInDiscipline feminist philosophy
history of philosophy
intellectual history
philosophy of mind

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Referenced by (3)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Metaphysical Thoughts relatedWork Elisabeth–Descartes correspondence
Elisabeth of the Palatinate notableWork Correspondence with René Descartes
linked to: Elisabeth–Descartes correspondence
Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia notableWork letters to René Descartes on mind–body interaction
linked to: Elisabeth–Descartes correspondence