Med 2 Essay Flashcards
Introduction:
+ in a position of diabolical doubt at beginning
+ tried to find absolute knowledge that survives demon
+ still close to defeat at the hands of the sceptics
Introduction quote:
“So what remains true? Perhaps just the one fact that nothing is certain.”
Paragraph 1 topic
The cogito
Paragraph 1 points:
+ motivated by diabolical doubt, questioned the most basic element of humanity: their existence
+ dead end as he previously said that the earth, body’s and mind didn’t exist
+ realised that there must be something that exists to be deceived
+ states cogito: I am, I exist
+ first absolute truth
+ turning point: can use this as a foundation for new knowledge
+ necessary truth (self-authenticating, self-explanatory, rationalist and survived med 1 arguments)
Paragraph 1 quote:
“But there is a deceiver of supreme power and cunning who is deliberately and constantly deceiving me. In that case, I too undoubtedly exist, if he is deceiving me”
Paragraph 2 topic
The discussion of the cogito
Paragraph 2 points:
- uses accepted definition of words
+ irrelevant, theory that matterS
+ Impossible task not to use language - Hume: cannot know true self, as what we perceive is everyone else’s perception, therefore, can’t know what self is thinking
- Ayer: thoughts don’t require a thinker, meaning des rates might not be thinking and can’t conclude anything
Your stance on paragraph 2?
Agree with both philosophers criticisms, to an extent
- they show how his wording and logic may be flawed
- however, seems odd to say one does not exist
Paragraph 3 topic
Discourse version of the cogito
Paragraph 3 points:
+ earlier version of cogito in “discourse on the method”
+ same in many ways to later cogito
+ uses incorrect standard form, argumentative style
+ relies on logic, which may be a prieur of deception
+ relies on hidden premise
+ Descartes does not solve these flaws in the later cogito, still open to deception, reducing the reliability of his entire quest
Paragraph 3 quote and example:
“I think; therefore, I am”
P1- I think. P2 - Thinking things exist. C - therefore, I exist
Paragraph 4 topic
The wax example
Paragraph 4 points:
+ cogito is confusing and may be misinterpreted
+ Descartes introduced wax example to establish sovereignty of rationalism
+ melts wax: observes its smell, structure, taste and feel before and after
+ senses would say initial and final products are not related
Paragraph 4 quote:
“Evidently it was not any of the features that the senses told me of; for all of them - brought to me through taste, smell, sight, touch or heading - have now altered, yet it is still the same wax”
Paragraph 5 topic
Discussion of the wax example
Paragraph 5 points:
+ empiricism would lead to wrong conclusion - proving he is a thinking thing, as he can deduce their relation
+ proves cogito, in his eyes
+ however, must have experienced melting process before to understand
+ accidental empiricism
+ furthermore, defies self-explanatory nature of cogito
Your stance on paragraph 5?
I agree with criticisms of the example and find that it reduces the reliability of the cogito. Descartes may have used empiricism previously and has defied many of the values of the cogito
Conclusion:
+ cogito is unsuccessful in providing absolute knowledge
+ uses pre-existing beliefs
+ denial of empiricism may be unwarranted
+ I,portant to note that if find theory valid, but that way Descartes presents it is not
+ therefore, still in diabolical doubt
+ close to defeat at the hands of the sceptics
