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Factual Errors and Shortcomings by Descartes

Table of contents

We test Descartes’ assertions just as we tested Einsein’s and Keynes’ to expose his factual errors.

n	Source	Error	Reality
1	Principia Part 3, 154	Saturn does not rotate so much	Saturn rotates quickly
2	The World Chapter 8	Comets (and the Oort Cloud) move faster than the inner planets	Comets are slower
3	Principia Part 3, 82	The fire-aether beyond Saturn do not move faster.	They move slower. This mistake is caused by the previous mistake on comets
4	Meteors Discourse 8	Colors are caused by photons turning in different directions. The cause of the error is believing that colors emerge after hitting something. This is a principle in Dioptrique. However, color is inherent information about the source, and not an emergent effect.	Colors are caused by wavelengths
5	Principia Part 3, 147	The outer planets are more solid than the inner ones	The inner planets are more solid

Descartes’ system would have been perfect if it didn’t have the following shortcomings:

Supernovae are notable features of galaxies. Descartes did not mention any supernova.

Natural electricity already existed as lightning, which he calls fire. It would have been great if he expounded more on the nature of electricity.

Descartes probably wanted to write biology after writing the Treatise on Man. But he died early in Sweden.