Hans-Peter Schuett

What Is Really Modern in Descartes

(Summary) The paper is an attempt to take seriously Descartes" well known title as "the father of modern philosophy". First, a convenient sense of "modern" is looked for, and it is found in something like "is acceptable for me (us) right now". Secondly, some peculiar facts are reported about the Wirkungsgeschichte which made for some post-Kantian philosophers so plausible to confer that very title on Descartes. Thirdly, it is argued that, in a sense, the modernity of his philosophy may be found in what not only seemingly is a most obsolete doctrine of his: substantial dualism.

key words: Descartes, the father of modern philosophy, modernity, substantial dualism