Intuition and Deduction (Epistemology)

Question 1

Four rules for gaining knowledge

Answer 1

1. Accept only beliefs that can be recognised clearly and distinctly to be true
2. Break down problems into their smallest parts
3. Build up arguments systematically in the right order. (Deduction)
4. Carefully check to ensure no steps are left out

Question 2

What is a clear and distinct idea?

Answer 2

• An idea is clear if it is bright and present to the mind.
• An idea is distinct if it is sharply separate from other ideas

For example, I am thinking and 2 plus 3 equals 5 are both clear and distinct.

However, the example of leg pain is clear to the one afflicted, but it is not distinct as the sufferer may be wrong about what caused it.

Question 3

Descartes’ cogito

Answer 3

i think, therefore i am

Concludes this after doubting all his beliefs; example of knowledge produced by reason alone (a priori).

Question 4

Trademark Argument

Answer 4

P1. The cause of anything must be at least as perfect as its effect.
P2. My ideas must be caused by something.
P3. I am an imperfect being.
P4. I have the idea of God, which is that of a perfect being.
C1. Therefore, a perfect being must have implemented my idea of a perfect being.
C2. God must exist.

Basically, our ideas must come from somewhere and us as imperfect beings, are unable to create an idea that is more perfect than us.
Therefore, the perfect idea of God must have come from a perfect being .eg God
Therefore God must exist.

It’s like God leaving his Trademark on us when he created us.