Epistemology:01.Intuition & Deduction Thesis Flashcards
What is Intuition according to Descartes?
A form of rational insight where any idea is true ‘clearly and distinctly’.
What is Deduction according to Descartes?
A form of inference where the premises entail the conclusion.
What does the Intuition/Deduction Thesis claim?
Some propositions are knowable to us by intuition only, while others are knowable by being deducted from intuited propositions.
What are the three waves of doubt?
- First Wave: Illusion
- Second Wave: Dream
- Third Wave: Deception
What is the First Wave of Doubt?
Illusion, where our senses can deceive us.
What is the Second Wave of Doubt?
Dream, where we doubt reality as dreams can feel real.
What is the Third Wave of Doubt?
Deception, where an evil demon might manipulate our perceptions.
What does Descartes’ ‘Cogito’ assert?
I cannot doubt that I exist; ‘I think’ is the first certainty.
What is the conclusion of ‘Cogito Ergo Sum’?
I think therefore I am.
Fill in the blank: Descartes’ method of doubt aims to find propositions which cannot be _______.
[doubted]
Why can we not know whether we are dreaming?
Because dreams can feel real and may not present a clear distinction from reality.
Give an example of why we should doubt our senses.
The pencil example, where our senses can present things in a way we know to be false.
What can the possible existence of an evil demon make me doubt?
The truth of logical statements, such as 2+2=4.
