Descartes Quiz Flashcards
What is Descartes called the father of?
Modern Philosophy
What is rationalism?
We know according to pure reason
What is empiricism?
We know according to our senses
What kind of Christianity did Descartes believe in?
Roman Catholicism
What is Scholasticism?
Predominant philosophy of the Middle Ages. Synthesize Christianity w/ Aristotle. Invented by Saint Thomas Aquinas.
Which ancient philosopher did the Scholastics follow the most?
Aristotle
What does Descartes mean by “reading the book of the world”?
well-traveled
Which science does Descartes want philosophy to emulate?
Mathematics
Why is metaphysics not the same as math?
Philosophy can doubt math; & there are certain concepts that math cannot know (i.e., God & the cogito)
What does First Philosophy mean?
Metaphysics
book: “Meditations on the First Philosophy”
What is the significance of the three dreams Descartes had?
Motivated him to break w/
Scholasticism once & for all
Where did Descartes write most of his books?
Holland
Which monarch hired Descartes as a tutor?
Christina (Queen of Sweden)
Where did Descartes die? How?
Died in Sweden; died of a cold
What kind of ideas can we be certain about for Descartes?
Clear & distinct ideas
What is the most important phrase Descartes ever said?
I think, therefore, I am (Cogito Ergo Sum)
What are the four stages of doubt?
- The Senses
- Are you awake?
- Can you do math?
- Evil Genius
Why can’t God be a deceiver?
God is perfect, & deception is the mark of an imperfect being.
What is the Archimedean point?
Unmovable point; the Archimedean point in Meditation 2 is you, as a thinking thing. (cogito)
How do we know that the piece of wax remains the same?
Our intellect perceives it as a material substance. We do not use our senses to know definitions, & knowing in the strict sense is knowing something’s definition.
