ABSTRACT
One of the conspicuous aspects of Descartes’ philosophy is its reversal of the traditional order of the disciplines. Instead of capping the philosophical edifice with metaphysics, Descartes famously makes the tree of philosophy grow from metaphysical roots. This chapter examines whether this reversal may be related to the earlier attempts of certain Protestant metaphysicians. The reason for investigating that link is that Henricus Regius, triggering the Querelle d’Utrecht (1641/42) by professing a Cartesian corpuscular philosophy, invoked certain dualistic notions he had taken from David Gorlaeus. For the rector of Utrecht University, Gisbertus Voetius, this was a sign that Descartes’ philosophy stood in a tradition that went all the way back to Nicolaus Taurellus’ maligned Philosophiae triumphus of 1573. This chapter investigates this allegation and seeks to see whether a comparison of Descartes with Taurellus, Gorlaeus and Regius might shed light some light on the foundational place of metaphysics in Descartes’ philosophy.
