Arguments For Descartes The First Indubitable Truth And Why?
1. What for Descartes is the first indubitable truth and why?
Descartes discovered his first indubitable truth is that he, himself, did exist. He used his methods of doubt to discount anything he thought he knew previously. He doubted everything his senses had told him because, according to Descartes, what he may have seen or heard might not necessarily be real. He also was not convinced that what he did in his waking life could have been while he was dreaming and, therefore, might also be false. By discarding everything based on the senses, mental imagery and by questioning the existence of God, he was able to start with a blank slate on which to prove his idea. His method of inquiry was knowledge based on certainty. Once he was satisfied that it was certain beyond any doubt, he came to his first indubitable truth, that he existed.
2. Identify and describe the three arguments Descartes employs to call into doubt our beliefs about reality.
Descartes’ arguments for his methods of doubt were things may not be as they seem based on the perception of our senses may be skewed, our dreams may lead us to believe that what we dreamed might be real and that what we know as God may be false or that God may be a demon instead. …show more content…
He uses his senses to consider the consistency, smell, taste, color and other factors that makes it wax. He then questioned what happens when the wax is melted. Even though some characteristics of the wax changed, it was still wax. The knowledge it was still wax could not be concluded through our senses since those things that had made the wax he began with had changed. He was not able to know anything of wax by imagination or of dreaming it. In applying careful scrutiny of what he knows, he was able to determine, with certainty, that his intellect and knowledge alone was enough to know that it was wax in whatever shape it was
Descartes discovered his first indubitable truth is that he, himself, did exist. He used his methods of doubt to discount anything he thought he knew previously. He doubted everything his senses had told him because, according to Descartes, what he may have seen or heard might not necessarily be real. He also was not convinced that what he did in his waking life could have been while he was dreaming and, therefore, might also be false. By discarding everything based on the senses, mental imagery and by questioning the existence of God, he was able to start with a blank slate on which to prove his idea. His method of inquiry was knowledge based on certainty. Once he was satisfied that it was certain beyond any doubt, he came to his first indubitable truth, that he existed.
2. Identify and describe the three arguments Descartes employs to call into doubt our beliefs about reality.
Descartes’ arguments for his methods of doubt were things may not be as they seem based on the perception of our senses may be skewed, our dreams may lead us to believe that what we dreamed might be real and that what we know as God may be false or that God may be a demon instead. …show more content…
He uses his senses to consider the consistency, smell, taste, color and other factors that makes it wax. He then questioned what happens when the wax is melted. Even though some characteristics of the wax changed, it was still wax. The knowledge it was still wax could not be concluded through our senses since those things that had made the wax he began with had changed. He was not able to know anything of wax by imagination or of dreaming it. In applying careful scrutiny of what he knows, he was able to determine, with certainty, that his intellect and knowledge alone was enough to know that it was wax in whatever shape it was