Early Modern Philosophy: A Dialogue Between Hobbes and Descartes

This assignment presents a dialogue between Thomas Hobbes and René Descartes, two prominent figures in early modern philosophy. The scene opens with the philosophers arriving at a golf club, setting the stage for a discussion on various philosophical topics. Their conversation spans several key concepts, including the nature of objects, the relationship between definition and use, and the existence of God. Hobbes challenges Descartes' views on topics such as the essence of objects, the interchangeability of objects with similar functions, and the limits of human knowledge, while Descartes attempts to defend his positions through reasoning and experience. The dialogue also explores the concept of conventions and the role of language in communication. Ultimately, the discussion highlights their differing perspectives and approaches to philosophical inquiry, offering insights into their respective philosophies.

Running head: EARLY MODERN PHILOSPHY 1
Early Modern Philosophy
Name
Institution

EARLY MODERN PHILOSPHY 2
Dialogue
The Third set of objections (By Thomas Hobbes)
SCENE: Hobbes and Descartes gets out of the red beautiful limousine, they walk clumsily
towards the golf club well decorated main entrance located in New Orleans leaving behind the
eye-catching vehicle in the parking slot in care of the short bearded driver.
HOBBES: Hey, so what do you think about this place?
Descartes keenly looks at the trees then directing his eyes back to Hobbes with a smile.
HOBBES: What is funny or my question does not make sense?
DESCARTES: Actually I was thinking...
They are abruptly stopped by the security personnel at the entrance to check on their identity
details.
HOBBES: If I manage to challenge you in today’s golf sport then you owe me a cup of coffee.
Descartes laughs off the idea dismissing it with without speaking a single word. They walk
towards the field and are set ready to start the sport.
DESCARTES: Wait a minute, so you think you are the best golfer on this planet?
Hobbes looks curiously at the ball holding the club with both fingers before taking the first shot.
HOBBES: Do you think definition of this ball really matters, the fact that it is round in shape,
does it affect its essence?

EARLY MODERN PHILOSPHY 3
DESCARTES: Yes of course, any intelligent man would know this, this are facts that can’t be
disputed.
They both order for drinks as they take a short brake.
HOBBES: Really? Imagine this bottle being displaced.
DESCARTES: yes it can just disappear without us even noticing.
HOBBES: That is weird thinking, from experience I know that it cannot disappear just that way,
it has to be moved from one place to another.
The waiter comes to clear the table. Both goes silent waiting for the waiter to leave so that they
embark on their heated debate.
DESCARTES: I agree with you on that, have you ever witnessed an object vanish into the
airspace just like that?
HOBBES: Where on earth would that happen, that is impossible.
DESCARTES: Even with your experience you cannot reason out that.
They walk back to the field for the second round. They both look worn out already.
Hobbes carries the golf bag on his shoulder.
HOBBES: Thinking of the meal we just had, does definition of an objects dictate its use, the fact
that a table has four legs and a chair having four legs do you think they can be used
interchangeably?
Descartes stares at his colleague astonishingly, shakes his head while waiting for his turn to
shoot the ball right in front of him.

EARLY MODERN PHILOSPHY 4
DESCATES: Cannot believe that such a question would emanate from you.
HOBBES: But that is what you have been purporting all along, well one can decide to use a
chair in the same manner they would use a table but it Is a convention that we have adopted that
seats are used for a different purposes from that of a table.
DESCARTES: But of course I know that, may be you just seem not to understand a thing. May
be you are so slow at comprehending this, perhaps old age is knocking on your door.
DESCARTES: Earlier I was telling you about both the table and chair having four legs and how
we utilize them is our own choice given that they are man-made objects.
HOBBES: So you think the concept is different from those of natural elements?
DESCARTES: That is quite obvious to any open minded citizen.
A wild cat runs past them, they both seem shocked.
HOBBES: Didn’t know that besides being a halfwit you are also a coward, anyway New Orleans
is normally associated with witchcraft given that it has stories of legendary witches.
Descartes does not take this lightly and takes a dig at his colleague.
DESCARTES: You almost had a heart attack you coward!
HOBBES: What a coincidence, what distinguishes a cat from other big cats?
DESCARTES: A cat has four legs, other distinguishing features such as fur, paws and teeth
among others.
HOBBES: So if things were to be changed then the cat ceases to be a cat?
DESCARTES: This is straight forward, if nothing is changed it can only breed with only cats.

EARLY MODERN PHILOSPHY 5
HOBBES: That to me is narrow reasoning, actually I expected literate people like you to know
that a cat can breed with another animal of the cat family, it is very possible.
DESCARTES: Your shallow knowledge of science of animal study blurs your philosophical
reasoning.
HOBBES: Well why don’t you make it more clear to me.
It seems the duo have forgotten that they were in golf sporting, they retreat to the shade in
preparation to go back for the last part of the training.
DESCARTES: There are other ways of referring to a cat in different communities but at the end
of the day it all narrows down to talking about the same animal.
HOBBES: To that extent I totally agree with you.
DESCARTES: Of course yes, and that is what is attributed to the perfect communication about
things having different names but meaning the same thing, two different things indicating one
thing.
HOBBES: But that is what I told you before, remember the conventions part?
DESCARTES: Yeah, funny enough two different people can talk about the same thing denoted
by two different words.
Hobbes nods his head in agreement.
They both walk down the pitch to undertake their last round of training but seemingly changes
their mind about going on, their body language tells it all.
DESCARTES: It was hectic, but a well spent day, what do you think?

EARLY MODERN PHILOSPHY 6
HOBBES: Yeah it was, actually more of these will keep me fit.
They both laugh looking at their large bellies. They simultaneously pull out their face towels to
wipe their sweat socked faces.
HOBBES: Hey, I just remembered, you owe me a cup of coffee
DESCARTES: For what exactly?
HOBBES: I did beat you.
DESCARTES: That is not true, how about I challenge to one last round to determine who won?
HOBBES: Challenge accepted.
They both go back to the field where Descartes takes first shot. They seem not to agree on
something, probably whether Descartes should repeat his poor shot.
Both taking a break from the argument and looks at an aeroplane above the sky.
DESCARTES: Ooh this reminds me, what do you think of God existence?
Hobbes declines to answer the questioning motioning Descartes to continue playing, but he
persist.
Hobbes finally gives up as his effort did not earn him a break from a new line of debate.
HOBBES: We cannot affirm that God exist from the limited knowledge we have about God.
Descartes looks at Hobbes ridiculously. Hobbes on the hand looks unmoved by his colleague’s
gesture.
HOBBES: Simply because we have no idea of who God is, or you do?

EARLY MODERN PHILOSPHY 7
DESCARTES: yes I would say that I cannot fully explain a thing about God but one thing I
cannot understand is that God is Omnipresent.
HOBBES: Yes issue about God are best explained in the scriptures, not even your weird thinking
could resolve this question.
DESCARTES: Well, you are entitled to your own opinion
Hobbes shakes his head looking uncertain.
Descartes takes his shot, the ball was closer to getting to the hole. He jumps in joy.
HOBBES: Yeah that is why for me I would say we do not possess an inborn idea of Gods origin.
The two finally gets back to the shade.
DESCARTES: Now who owes the other coffee?
HOBBES: Relax, it was not your call.
The waitress gets back with another round of lemon juice serving the two who are comfortably
seated under the breezy shade, looking more relaxed. This time Hobbes signal the waitress to
clean the table.
A few minutes later the waitress approach the table with receipt of their orders, Hobbes pays the
balance using his credit card, the waitress confirms the details then leaves the scene.
DESCARTES: That was a decent price, New Orleans is the place to be.
The duo decides to call it a day as both heads for the exit.
HOBBES: I enjoyed playing that last minute mind blowing session.

EARLY MODERN PHILOSPHY 8
DESCARTES: Yeah right. Now let’s head for the car, looks like it’s going to rain heavily.
The driver opens the doors as both quickly disappear into the back seat calmer compared to
earlier minutes when they were in a heated debated.
The car speeds off and disappears into the beautiful green plains.
DESCARTES: It is getting cold forgot to carry my jacket today, any idea genius?
HOBBES: With your powerful mind I thought you saw the raining coming or this caught you
off?

EARLY MODERN PHILOSPHY 9
References
Metapphysique de I’home Chez Descates (Paris: Puff, 2000).
Hatfield, Gari, Routledge, 2003; Philosophy Guide Book to Descartes and Meditations
Ariew et.al. 1995; Descartes and his Contemporaries
Rorty, Amelie, (ed.) 1986; Essays on Descartes Meditations
Rene Descartes, 1641; Meditation on First Philosophy
Smith K., 2015; Descartes’ Life and Works
Tweyman, Stanley, 2013: Meditation of First Philosophy in focus.