Descartes Rationalism

Question 1

Why did descartes write the meditations?

Answer 1

to find a firm foundation for knowledge
to refute scepticism
to vindicate rationalism
to establish the reliability of sciences
to prove the existence of GOD
to substitute reason for authority

Question 2

What is the method of doubt?

Answer 2

assume nothing
start a fresh
re examine his beliefs
focus on foundational beliefs
reject obvious falsehoods
also reject any slightly doubtful beliefs
looking for 1 certainty to base his knowledge on
- architectural metaphor -
- barrel of apples analogy -
he considers sitting by the fire dreaming - therefore isnt reality
considers the possibility of a evil genius whos out to deceive him at every point
descartes arrives at the cogito because in order to dream or be decieved he must exist

Question 3

What is the dreaming argument?

Answer 3

A stronger argument against sense experience
any given sense experience can be replicated in dreams
hence sense experience is unreliable
in fact there is never any sure way of distinguishing dreams from reality

Question 4

What is the Evil Genius?

Answer 4

Is an invention to counter the objection that a good god would not allow us to be systematically deceived
The evil genius brings doubt to those areas left unaffected by the previous doubts ie the existence of an external world and the reliability of reason
the evil genius is a device to sustain the doubts developed previously

Question 5

Does the method of doubt provide Descartes with certainty?

Answer 5

The cogito depends on prior knowledge

alternative explanations - there are thoughts without thinkers

Question 6

What is the cogito?

Answer 6

“I am, I exist”

“I think, therefore i am”

Question 7

How does descartes arrive at the cogito?

Answer 7

Through the method of doubt

Question 8

What is “i am, I exist” and necessary truth?

Answer 8

other a priori and a posteriori beliefs are questionable
Descartes is adopting a very high standard of certainty
it is self affirming statement
doubting is species of thinking and thinking requires a thinker
if the demon deceives me this confirms my existence

Question 9

What is “I am, I exist” as a certain foundation for knowledge?

Answer 9

Assumes a clear notionof personhood
Assumes thoughts require a thinker and our only evidence for this is evidential which has already been ruled out
Arguably dependent on circular argument
arguably assumes the truth of the laws of logic
Assumes the reliability of memory
Assumes the truth of dualism since descartes has already accepted that the existence of the body can be doubted
At best the cogito only confirms existence when it is being conceived and does not support existence over time which is necessary for the notion of personhood.
Assumes the reliability and consistency of our use of language
Clear explication of the relationship between the cogito and descartes foundationalism

Question 10

Is the cogito beyond doubt?

Answer 10

it is impossible to doubt that you are thinking because doubt is a kind of thinking

Question 11

What are the criticism of the cogito?

Answer 11

the formulation in the “Discourse on Method”
It looks like a logical syllogism
All logical arguments require premises and if the cogito needs premises then it cant be the foundational belief that Descartes is looking for
Moreover if it is a logical syllogism it has a missing or assumed premise which needs to be made explicit
There is a suppressed premise
“thinking things exist” compromising the rationalistic agenda
Do thoughts necessarily imply a thinker? Hume’s bundle theory denies a substantial self
Russell’s accusation of circularity
It is trivial

Question 12

What are problems with the cogito?

Answer 12

use of previous knowledge:
what doubt is
what thinking is
possible suppressed premise
the stability of language
possibly assumes the reliability of reason
problems of identifying the 'I'
Yields only subjective certainty
impossibility of building on the foundation

Question 13

What is clearly and distinctly?

Answer 13

perceptions which are so self evident that while they are held in the mind they cannot logically be doubted
something that gives rise to irresistible certainty
clear = present to the attentive mind
distinct = not confused with anything that is not clear
known by the light of nature

Question 14

What are examples of clear and distinct perceptions?

Answer 14

the cogito
god’s existence
3+2 = 5

Question 15

What are clear and distinct perceptions in Descartes attempt to establish certain knowledge?

Answer 15

Perceptions which are so self evident that, while they are held in the mind, they cannot logically be doubted
Something that gives rise to irresistable certainty
clear = present to the attentive mind
distinct = not confused with anything that is not clear
known by the ‘light of nature’

Question 16

What are the problems with the clear and distinct rule?

Answer 16

the cartesian circle and explanation
subjective criterion of truth and explanation
is the clear and distinct rule known clearly and distinctly?

Question 17

What is descartes confidence that physical objects exist?

Answer 17

descartes employs the trademark argument to prove the existence of a most perfect being who made me as i am
a most perfect being would not permit me to be systematically deceived this being has made me as i am and is therefore responsible for my having a powerful natural inclination to believe that physical objects exist
descartes concludes that i cannot see how he could be other than a deceiver if physical objects do not exist
this is the appeal to divine benevolence that underpins cartesian metaphysics

Question 18

How far has descartes achieved his aims by the end of meditation three?

Answer 18

criticism of the method of doubt:
has failed to doubt everything
criticism of the cogito:
assumes prior knowledge/ assumes reliability of reasoning/ assumes reliability of memory/ arguably not entitled to I
Criticism of the trademark argument
explanation and discussion of the cartesian circle
reliance on the principle of a causal adequancy
explanation of the weakness of the principle of causal adequancy
if god is an innate idea then it is not clear why not everywhere has such an idea
descartes assumes that a benevolent god would not fool us but benevolence and deception are not obviously inconsistent
descartes is a rationalist

Question 19

What is the role of God?

Answer 19

Descartes has an idea of God (a perfect being)
in every case there must be at least as much reality as there is in the effect
since i am an imperfect being i cannot be responsible for this idea of perfection
whatever caused my idea of perfection must be perfect
therefore God - a perfect being exists

to enable him to rebuild knowledge
to give grounds for faith in our facilities of sense, reason and memory
to overcome the deceiving God of meditation one and thus establish certainty in a priori reasoning
a perfect being wouldn’t let him be deceived since “all fraud and deception depend on some defect”
to act as a guarantee for clear and distinct ideas
to move beyond the cogito
descartes’ argument for the existence of god

Question 20

Why does descartes need to prove the existence of God?

Answer 20

To overcome the deceiving God of Med 1 and thus establish certainty in apriori reasoning
A perfect being wouldnt let him be deceived since “all fraud and deception depend on some defect”
to act as guarantor of “clear and distinct” ideas
to move beyond the cogito

Question 21

What are the criticisms of the trademark argument?

Answer 21

reliance on the principle of causal adequacy
explanation of the weakness of the principle of causal adequacy
e.g. sponge cake has many properties not present in the ingredients the principle of causal adequacy was intended to physical objects not ideas)
If god is an innate idea then it is not clear why not everyone has such idea

Question 22

Is descartes successful in his attempt to rebuild knowledge?

Answer 22

critically evaluate how descartes refutes sceptical arguments in med 6
consider how convincing descartes arguments are for God as the guarantor of clear and distinct perceptions in med 3
consider whether or not descartes has been successful in establishing the cogito as a foundation for knowledge