title: [The mark of envy: metaphysics and embryology according to Descartes].
abstract: This paper explores the interaction between medicine and metaphysics in modern natural philosophy and especially in Descartes' philosophy. I argue that Descartes hypothetical account of birthmarks in connection with his embryology provides an argumentative proof of the metaphysical necessity of a substantial union between mind and body, which however does not threaten his doctrine of the real distinction between these two substances. It would appear that his argument relies on a temporal conception of alethic modalities and provides a new answer to Henricus Regius who in 1641 claimed that, for Descartes, the human being is an ensper accidens.
authors.affiliation: Université de Provence (Aix-Marseille 1). lynda.gaudemard@univ-provence.fr
authors.forename: Lynda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gaudemard
mesh_terms: D004626:Embryology / Q000266:history*; D005602:France; D049670:History, 17th Century; D006801:Humans; D008678:Metaphysics / Q000266:history*; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical; D012868:Skin Abnormalities / Q000266:history*