PHILOSOPHY - René Descartes Flashcards
Question: What distinguished Descartes’ approach from many other philosophers?
Answer: Descartes relied solely on the human power of logic and introspection guided by definition, sound argument, and clarity of thought, rather than appeals to God, authority, or tradition.
Question: What was Descartes’ “Method of Doubts,” and how did he describe it?
Answer: Descartes’ “Method of Doubts” involved systematically questioning and inspecting all ideas, similar to examining each apple in a barrel to determine its worth. He believed in dividing complex problems into smaller, understandable sections by asking incisive questions.
Question: What is the famous philosophical proposition coined by Descartes, and what does it imply?
Answer: The famous proposition is “I think, therefore I am” (or “Cogito, ergo sum”). It implies that the very act of thinking and doubting is proof of one’s existence. If one can think and question their existence, they must exist.
Question: How did Descartes view the role of human senses and passions in understanding existence and emotions?
Answer: Descartes considered human senses unreliable and instead emphasized the importance of understanding and identifying the fundamental passions, such as love, hatred, desire, joy, and sadness. He believed that rather than suppressing these passions, individuals should learn to recognize their impact on behavior and strive for a more rational and independent vision of existence.
Question: What key attribute of Descartes’ thinking contributed to his beliefs?
Answer: Descartes’ independent, rational mind and his commitment to working through emotional confusion, prejudice, and unhelpful tradition were central to his philosophical approach.
Question: In contrast to the ancient stoic philosophers, how did Descartes approach human passions and emotions?
Answer: Unlike the ancient stoics, who aimed to vanquish passions, Descartes believed in understanding and identifying the fundamental passions, such as love, hatred, desire, joy, and sadness. He argued that individuals should become more aware of their emotional responses and strive for greater emotional control.
Question: How did Descartes view traditional ideas that required the input of teams of individuals or had been passed through generations?
Answer: Descartes was suspicious of ideas that required the input of teams or had been passed through generations. He believed that philosophers did not need teams of scientists or reliance on unverified tradition. Instead, he emphasized the importance of solitary, rational reflection in a quiet room.
Question: What commitment does “I think, therefore I am” signify in Descartes’ philosophy, and how does it relate to emotions and traditional beliefs?
Answer: “I think, therefore I am” signals a commitment to working through emotional confusion, prejudice, and unhelpful tradition in order to arrive at an independent, rationally founded vision of existence. It encourages the individual to question their own emotions and the beliefs that may influence them, striving for greater clarity and self-understanding.
