Meditation II Flashcards
What does Descartes mean by cogito, ergo sum and what role does it play in his project?
“I think, therefore I am.” In the process of radical doubt, Descartes realized that even if he were to doubt everything, there was one thing he could not doubt: the fact that he was doubting. Doubting, thinking, or having thoughts became the one indubitable truth that could not be reasonably denied. From this realization, Descartes formulated the famous phrase “Cogito, ergo sum” to express this undeniable truth: if he is doubting, then he must exist as a thinking being.
In what way is the cogito known to be true, explain fully. Note the difference between intuition and deduction.
So, in Descartes’ philosophy, the cogito argument is considered true because it is indubitable and self-evident. The act of doubting or thinking serves as undeniable evidence of one’s own existence as a thinking being. Descartes argues that even if he were deceived by an evil demon or if his sensory perceptions were unreliable, he could not doubt that he exists as a thinking thing.
The cogito is the foundational truth, known with absolute certainty.
Intuition refers to a rapid and instinctive form of knowledge acquisition or decision-making that occurs without relying on explicit reasoning or conscious awareness of the underlying process. It involves immediate and direct insight or understanding, often described as a “gut feeling” or “sixth sense.”
Deduction, on the other hand, is a logical and systematic process of reasoning that involves drawing specific conclusions from general principles or premises. It relies on explicit rules of logic to derive valid inferences.
Explain the analysis of the piece of wax: what does this analysis tell us about our knowledge of sensible material objects? According to Descartes, how does the mind grasp the material object and what aspect of the material object does it grasp with certainty? Essentially, what is the piece of wax?
In Descartes’ thought experiment, he presents a piece of wax that has certain sensory qualities, such as color, shape, smell, and texture. However, when the wax is subjected to heat, these sensory qualities change dramatically. Despite the transformation, Descartes argues that our understanding of the wax persists. The question then arises: What is it that we truly know about the wax if its sensory properties can change so significantly?
Descartes asserts that our knowledge of the wax cannot depend on the sensory qualities alone because they are subject to change and are inherently unreliable. Instead, he suggests that the mind grasps the wax through pure intellect or understanding, rather than relying on the senses. The mind recognizes that the essential nature of the wax lies in its extension, which refers to its ability to occupy space. Extension is a fundamental attribute of material objects that remains constant despite changes in sensory qualities.
According to Descartes, the mind grasps the wax with certainty by understanding its essential attribute of extension. This understanding is achieved through rational thought and intellectual analysis rather than sensory perception. Descartes argues that our knowledge of material objects is not derived solely from sensory experiences but is grounded in the intellect’s ability to comprehend their essential properties.
So, what is the piece of wax? Descartes concludes that the piece of wax, in its true nature, is an extended substance. Its sensory qualities may change, but our intellect grasps the essential attribute of extension that defines its existence as a material object. The experiment aims to show that our knowledge of material objects should not rely solely on sensory perceptions, which are subject to deception and change. Instead, Descartes emphasizes the importance of intellectual understanding in acquiring certain knowledge about the essential nature of objects.
