Beckett and Geulincx's Metaphysics: “Without knowing why exactly”

This essay – the first in a two-part examination of why Beckett himself regarded the philosophy of the Cartesian occasionalist Arnold Geulincx as one of the “points of departure” for understanding his work – discusses Beckett's interest in the aspects of Geulincx's metaphysical theory that serve as a foundation for an ethics: 1. (Self-examination; ). 2. Absolute separation of body and mind. 3. (Whatever you do not in any way know how to do, that you cannot do). A sequel, appearing separately in this issue, extends the discussion to “Beckett and Geulincx's Ethics.”