Meditation 6: On the existence of material things; and of the real distinction between the soul and the body of men

Question 1

The Key Question

Answer 1

is it possible that God could be tricking me about everything? It would mean everything I “know” apart from the cogito could be false including a priori truths such as 3+2=5
how does Descartes deal with this problem?
God has the power to but he doesn’t because he is benevolent

Question 2

the Cartesian circle

Answer 2

God can’t be a deceiver-so we can trust our clear and distinct ideas.
but we need to reply upon our clear and distinct ideas in order to prove God exists.
How does Descartes address this problem?
“I have already proven that God exists I can rely upon my memory to show that I already know this”
“I can use this to trust my other clear and distinct ideas”
Problem-how can he trust his memory

Question 3

biting the bullet

Answer 3

for our cognitive system is to reliable our best by way of judgement must be foundationally reliable-it is the point where the system is grounded in certainty. This means our best by way of judgement must be veridical and self-guaranteeing. Like the cogito something we cannot doubt but unlike the cogito not a reflexive truth.
Descartes spells out the argument:
my best by way of judgement (clear and distinct ideas) show me that God is a perfect being
such as God would not allow me to be radically misled
I should be radically misled if my best by way of judgement (clear and distinct) were not veridical.
i know that is not the case: it is veridical.
my invoking God he made the argument circular
should have said:
my best by was of judgement is veridical

Question 4

the approach of other philosophers

Answer 4

Hume: sense impressions/sense data and empiricism
Rationalists: innate knowledge

Question 5

The Real Distinction between Mind and Body

Answer 5

Both are clear and distinct bur poses completely different properties.

Question 6

Am “I” extended?

Answer 6

how we know “I” is not extended
If I were extended then only I would know as no one else can inhabit my mind however extension is more objective than this. Furthermore to be aware of my extension I would have to be something apart from it, so the question would rise again as to whether at this new level of subjectivity I was extended. Infinite regress.