Divine Infinity and the Crisis of Cartesian Metaphysics | At the Institute & Online

A Lecture |

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Lecture by Prof. Dan Arbib, Sorbonne Université

Commentary by: Prof. Benjamin Brown, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Abstract:

Divine infinity disrupts Cartesian metaphysics: such is the claim I would like to defend. It is as much a claim about infinity as it is about metaphysics—and most of all about the Cartesian position in the history of metaphysics. The idea of infinity is at the same time an idea of the foundation that goes beyond rationality (letters of 1630), and the idea that integrates itself with rationality to demonstrate this foundation (Meditationes). Thus, in the heart of the divine infinity, a tension is all the more powerful and unbearable as Descartes strangely hid it; his metaphysics acquires a kind of internal duality which Descartes does not look aware of. The fact that Descartes contributed to the submission of the infinite to the unfolding of metaphysics does not prevent him from associating in the same name a metaphysical determination and a non-metaphysical determination of God. With Scotus, God entered into metaphysics as infinite; with Levinas, he came out of metaphysics, still as infinite; this paradox, it was to Descartes to deploy it maximally.

The lecture will be followed by a discussion with the audience.

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