First Meditation - levels of doubt Flashcards
First Level of Doubt (senses)
Senses sometimes deceive, calling perceptual knowledge of non-clearly perceived things into question. Maybe we still know things we clearly perceive?
Failed Second Level (madness)
Considers and then rejects the possibility that he is mad
Second Level of doubt (dream)
What if he was dreaming? Any physical objects may be fake, but mathematical truths should be the same? Additionally, even invented physical things must be based in reality.
Failed third level (god as a deceiver)
God could not be a deceiver– “supremely good”
Third Level of doubt (evil demon)
Evil demon has deceived him. Even mathematical beliefs are called into question. The only thing that is free from doubt is his own thinking. (transparency of the mental–can’t be wrong that you are thinking even if you are being deceived)
