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Writer's pictureJuliana Eljach

Géraud de Cordemoy (1626 - 1684)

Psychology, a discipline that has undergone a continuous evolution throughout history, has been enriched by the contributions of various thinkers and theorists who have left a lasting mark on its development. Among them, Géraud de Cordemoy stands out, a French philosopher of the 17th century whose contributions to psychology deserve special recognition. Géraud de Cordemoy (1626 - 1684), with his insight and intellectual acuity, delved deeply and systematically into the mysteries of the human mind, laying the foundations for psychology as a scientific discipline in his time. His research and reflections transcended the conventional limits of his era and allowed him to establish solid foundations for the study of mental processes and human behavior.



Introduction to the Life and Work of Géraud de Cordemoy

Géraud de Cordemoy, also known as Gerauld de Cordemoy, was born on October 6th, 1626, as the son of a professor at the University of Paris (Ablondi, 2022; Montagud, 2020). He was the third of the four children of Géraud and Nicole de Cordemoy, and the only son in the family (Ablondi, 2022). His early childhood remains largely in the shadows, as besides the loss of his father at the age of nine, there are hardly any records shedding light on those early years of his life. While the date of his marriage to Marie de Chazelles is undocumented, Ablondi (2022) mentions that his first of five children came into the world on December 7th, 1651, when Cordemoy was twenty-five years old.

In addition to working as a lawyer to make a living, he became deeply involved in Parisian philosophical circles, allowing him to expand his knowledge and contribute to the intellectual sphere of his time (Ablondi, 2022). Through his fervent interest in philosophy, he had the opportunity to attend numerous intellectual salons where ideas were debated, and knowledge was exchanged with prominent thinkers of the era. During these gatherings, according to Ablondi (2022), he had the privilege of forming relationships with notable figures like the Minim Emmanuel Maignan and the physicist Jacques Rohault, who led enriching philosophical discussions.

In the year 1664, the essay "Discours de l'áction des corps" (Discourse on the Action of Bodies) was published and found a prominent place in the posthumous publication of René Descartes' work "Le Monde" (The World), thanks to the efforts of Claude Clerselier (Ablondi, 2022). This essay, which would later become the second of the six discourses comprising one of Cordemoy's most important works, "Le Discernement du corps et de l'âme en six discours pour servir à l'éclaircissement de la physique" (1666), marked a milestone in the philosophical and scientific thought of the time. According to Ablondi (2022), in this work, Cordemoy presents his atomism, arguments in favor of occasionalism, and his accounts of the distinction and interaction between the mind and the body.

Another significant work was the "Discours physique de la parole" (Physical Discourse on Speech), published in 1668, as well as his "Copie d'une lettre ecrite à un sçavant religieux de la Compagnie de Jésus" (Copy of a Letter Written to a Learned Religious of the Society of Jesus) (Ablondi, 2022). This latter work represented his attempt to reconcile Cartesian philosophy with the narrative of creation found in the Book of Genesis. On the other hand, his "Discours physique de la parole" addressed the production of speech, leading Cordemoy to be considered one of the most prominent French philosophers. In fact, according to Ablondi (2022), his influence was so significant that he became the model for the character of the Philosophy Master in Molière's play, "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme.”

Apart from the aforementioned works, he left behind a broad and diverse philosophical and literary legacy, including other notable works such as his "Traitez de Metaphysique" (Treatise on Metaphysics) and his "Traitez sur l'Histoire et la Politique" (Treatise on History and Politics) (Ablondi, 2022). According to Ablondi (2022), these works, despite their shorter length, contain valuable reflections and analyses on various intellectually and socially relevant topics.

In addition to his achievements as an author and thinker, Cordemoy played a role in the academic and political spheres (Ablondi, 2022). He became the director of l'Académie Française, having been elected as a member in the year 1675, which provided him with the opportunity to engage in intellectual debates and collaborate with other scholars. Additionally, he had the honor of being the tutor to the Dauphin, the son of King Louis XIV, demonstrating the recognition and trust placed in his wisdom and educational ability (Ablondi, 2022). His influence as a mentor and his involvement in intellectual and political circles reflect his significance as a prominent figure of the era.

Unfortunately, Cordemoy's life was cut short prematurely by a sudden illness when he was only 58 years old (Ablondi, 2022). At the time of his passing, he was immersed in writing a history of France, a monumental project that was ultimately completed by his eldest son, Louis-Géraud (Ablondi, 2022). This work was published in two volumes, the first in the year 1685 and the second in 1689, becoming an important historical legacy that covered various periods and fundamental events of the French nation (Ablondi, 2022). Cordemoy's dedication and efforts in undertaking this task underscore his passion for historical knowledge and his desire to contribute to the understanding of national identity.



The Theory of "Action at a Distance"

Cordemoy's contribution to psychology lies in his theory of "action at a distance," which postulates that the mind can exert influence over the body without the need for a direct physical connection (Audi, 2015). It's interesting to note that Cordemoy was influenced by Cartesian thought (Benítez & Velázquez, 2021). However, Cordemoy took it a step further by developing the idea that the mind and the body are two separate entities that interact with each other through "action at a distance" (Montagud, 2020). This notion had an impact on the understanding of the relationship between the mind and the body in modern psychology. Indeed, according to Audi (2015), this theory has been used to explain phenomena such as hypnosis and suggestion.

This theory has found applications in studying phenomena like telepathy and clairvoyance, sparking interest and debate in modern psychology (Audi, 2015). According to this theory, the mind has the capacity to influence the body even across significant distances, suggesting the possibility of exerting remote influence over other bodies. This idea has stimulated the exploration of new forms of interaction and connection between individuals that go beyond conventional limits of time and space, raising questions about the nature of the mind and its ability to transcend physical barriers.



The Body as the Instrument of the Mind

Cordemoy's contribution to the field of philosophy stands out for his development of the idea that the body is an instrument through which the mind interacts with the world (Manning, 2012). In this conception, the body becomes a fundamental means for the mind to manifest itself and carry out actions in its environment (Montagud, 2020). According to Montagud (2020), this perspective is linked to the advancements in contemporary psychology, which has extensively explored the relationship between the body and the mind, highlighting the importance of their interaction in understanding human behavior as a whole.

In his first discourse, Cordemoy addresses the concept of "bodies," which resemble what is now understood as atoms (Montagud, 2020). These bodies have limited extension that gives them a defined shape, referred to as "figure." Furthermore, he considers bodies as indivisible substances, incapable of breaking down into smaller units. On the other hand, he asserts that one body cannot pass through another, thus establishing a spatial relationship between them, which he calls "place." According to Montagud (2020), the movement of a body from one place to another is known as "motion," while a body that remains in place without being displaced or subjected to any external force is in a state of rest.

According to Cordemoy, matter can be comprehensibly conceived as a collection of bodies, with these bodies being an integral part of matter itself (Montagud, 2020). In this sense, as per Montagud (2020), he posits that when these bodies are close to each other and grouped together, they are referred to as clusters; conversely, if these bodies undergo constant positional change, they acquire the nature of a fluid; and finally, if the bodies are inseparably united, they take on the form of a mass.

Cordemoy was among the first to glimpse the connection between Cartesian physics and a philosophical current known as occasionalism, which posits that God is the only true and active cause in the world (Montagud, 2020). This notion is explicitly presented in his fourth Discourse, where he introduces the idea that bodies lack intrinsic motion, as they remain bodies even when in motion. In other words, according to Montagud (2020), bodies do not undergo a transformation into a momentary entity endowed with the property of motion, only to revert to bodies in a state of rest.

Therefore, if bodies do not possess the capacity to generate motion by themselves, the original source of such motion cannot be a body (Montagud, 2020). Within Cordemoy's philosophy, there are two types of substances: bodies and the mind. Consequently, the entity that imparts motion to bodies must be a mind. However, the mind, at least the human mind, lacks the ability to generate motion. For instance, we cannot halt the replication of liver cells or halt the aging process. Montagud (2020) notes that it is from this consideration that Cordemoy arrives at the conclusion that the only entity capable of initiating motion is God, whose infinite mind is characterized by its unlimited capacity to influence bodies.



Language as a Pathway for Communicating Thought

In his philosophy, he delves into the intricate dilemma of how we can be certain that other human beings possess the faculty of thinking (Montagud, 2020). While each individual is aware of their own capacity to think, it becomes impossible to delve into the minds of others to confirm whether they too are immersed in processes of thought or whether, on the contrary, they are mere automatons devoid of such capacity. In correspondence with Montagud (2020), facing this enigma, Cordemoy presents an interesting perspective: the observation of language as a pathway to infer the existence of thought in others.

Human language becomes the quintessential channel through which individuals are capable of sharing their world in a creative manner (Montagud, 2020). This creativity, intrinsic to language, eludes any merely mechanical explanation that could be applied to a soulless automaton or machinery. Thus, a distinction is established between the genuine use of language, in which thought is expressed, and the mere act of producing sounds without cognitive underpinnings. According to Montagud (2020), true language implies the ability to emit, through sound, signals that reflect internal thought, that is, the ability to communicate and share what one harbors in the mind.

For any form of discourse to exist, it posits the need to fulfill two fundamental requirements. First, the physical act of producing sounds through the voice is required, an attribute that arises from the body itself. Second, it is essential to possess the faculty of thought, an intrinsic capacity of the soul. According to Montagud (2020), it is only through the conjunction of these two elements that language acquires its meaning and becomes a tool to transmit and share the deepest and most complex thoughts.



The Lasting Power of Cordemoy's Ideas in Psychology

It's impressive how Cordemoy's works not only exerted a significant influence in his own era but also stand as a solid example of how the ideas of a brilliant thinker can endure through time and remain relevant in a discipline, even centuries after their passing (Montagud, 2020). According to Montagud (2020), Cordemoy's contributions across a wide range of topics, such as his controversial notion of "action at a distance," as well as his profound exploration of the relationship between the body and the mind, have been widely taken up and developed by other thinkers and theorists over the years.


References

  1. Ablondi, F. (2022). Géraud de Cordemoy (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Recuperado 26 de junio de 2023, de https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/cordemoy/

  2. Audi, R. (2015). The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy (2.a ed.). Cambridge University Press. https://ia800206.us.archive.org/25/items/RobertiAudi_The.Cambridge.Dictionary.of.Philosophy/Robert.Audi_The.Cambridge.Dictionary.of.Philosophy.pdf

  3. Benítez, L., & Velázquez, S.A. (2021). Descartes y sus Interlocutores (1.a ed.). Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. https://ru.atheneadigital.filos.unam.mx/jspui/bitstream/FFYL_UNAM/4726/1/Descartes%20y%20sus%20interlocutores%20EIPE.pdf

  4. Capella, F. (2023, 20 marzo). Libertad, libre albedrío y determinismo. Instituto Juan de Mariana. Recuperado 26 de junio de 2023, de https://juandemariana.org/ijm-actualidad/analisis-diario/libertad-libre-albedrio-y-determinismo/

  5. Haas, D. (2022). Libertad de la Voluntad. LibreTexts Español. Recuperado 26 de junio de 2023, de https://espanol.libretexts.org/Humanidades/Filosof%C3%ADa/Introducci%C3%B3n_a_la_Filosof%C3%ADa_-_Filosof%C3%ADa_de_la_Mente_(Salazar_Ed.)/Libertad_de_la_voluntad_%E2%80%94_Introducci%C3%B3n_a_la_filosof%C3%ADa%3A_filosof%C3%ADa_de_la_mente

  6. Hatfield, G. (2023). Mind and Psychology in Descartes. En The Oxford Handbook of Descartes and Cartesianism (pp. 105-123). https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198796909.013.6

  7. Manning, G. (2012). Descartes, Other Minds and Impossible Human Bodies. California Institute of Technology. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/p/pod/dod-idx/descartes-other-minds-and-impossible-human-bodies.pdf?c=phimp;idno=3521354.0012.016;format=pdf

  8. Montagud, N. (2020). Géraud de Cordemoy: Biografía de este Filósofo Francés. Psicología y Mente. Recuperado 26 de junio de 2023, de https://psicologiaymente.com/biografias/geraud-de-cordemoy

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