The Role of Sensory Experience in Descartes’ Method

Abstract

This article seeks to show that the role of experience in Descartes’ philosophy cannot be considered independently of his claims on pure intellectual knowledge. First, as a brief introduction, some passages of Descartes’ works, which highlight the importance of experimentation, will be reviewed. Then, the role of ‘common experience’ and sensation in Cartesian scientific explanation is shown. Finally, an explanation about the relationship between experience and reason will provide a general view on Descartes’ scientific explanation.