What Is The Difference Between Locke And Meditations On First Philosophy
Rene Descartes, John Locke, and David Hume are three of the most fundamental and inspiring philosophers in history. Three very different men, with very different views, all sharing the same goals; to find the true meaning of the ‘self,’ to discover the true definition of what knowledge is, how to obtain knowledge, and the relationship between the body and mind. All three had distinctions in their theories that separated them from each other. Some ideas were shared amongst them, however majority of their individual views conflicted with one another. Descartes was a rationalist and idealist who was known for his “Meditations on First Philosophy”; which was written by him with the objective to omit any false truths he knew to leave only what
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As previously stated, Descartes is a rationalist and idealist. Descartes main concepts are that knowledge comes from the mind and not the senses, certainty does exist, and that there is indeed a god. Rationalists, such as Plato and Descartes, believe that knowledge comes from using reason, thinking, understanding, and the power of the mind (Descartes, Epistemology Lecture Notes). Idealists believe that we all have knowledge of ideas in the mind. Rationalism has three key concepts, which are innate ideas, reason, and deduction. Descartes did believe that we all started with prior knowledge, known as a priori. Descartes believed that knowledge could be formed simply through experience and deduction. One of Descartes main goal was to eliminate any uncertainty or false beliefs (Meditations on First Philosophy, p.1). In his first meditations, Descartes first step is to eliminate any reliance on the use of his senses because as he states, “.. Occasionally I have found that they have deceived me, and it is unwise to trust completely those who have deceived us even once.” (Meditations on First Philosophy, p.1). After Descartes endures heavy meditation and contemplation he comes to the conclusion that knowledge comes from intellect alone, all truths can be found using intellect and mental reasoning, and knowledge depends on certainty (Meditations on First Philosophy, p.8). Descartes did support the belief of dualism, a distinct separation between the mind and the body; he considered the body simply an extension. Because Descartes was capable and conscious of thoughts he knew his existence was certain (Meditations on First Philosophy, p.2). The phrase highly affiliated with Descartes's “cogito ergo sum” translating to “I think therefore I am”; this phrase is the key concept to Descartes outtake on identity. Descartes certainty regarding the body however was not as
As previously stated, Descartes is a rationalist and idealist. Descartes main concepts are that knowledge comes from the mind and not the senses, certainty does exist, and that there is indeed a god. Rationalists, such as Plato and Descartes, believe that knowledge comes from using reason, thinking, understanding, and the power of the mind (Descartes, Epistemology Lecture Notes). Idealists believe that we all have knowledge of ideas in the mind. Rationalism has three key concepts, which are innate ideas, reason, and deduction. Descartes did believe that we all started with prior knowledge, known as a priori. Descartes believed that knowledge could be formed simply through experience and deduction. One of Descartes main goal was to eliminate any uncertainty or false beliefs (Meditations on First Philosophy, p.1). In his first meditations, Descartes first step is to eliminate any reliance on the use of his senses because as he states, “.. Occasionally I have found that they have deceived me, and it is unwise to trust completely those who have deceived us even once.” (Meditations on First Philosophy, p.1). After Descartes endures heavy meditation and contemplation he comes to the conclusion that knowledge comes from intellect alone, all truths can be found using intellect and mental reasoning, and knowledge depends on certainty (Meditations on First Philosophy, p.8). Descartes did support the belief of dualism, a distinct separation between the mind and the body; he considered the body simply an extension. Because Descartes was capable and conscious of thoughts he knew his existence was certain (Meditations on First Philosophy, p.2). The phrase highly affiliated with Descartes's “cogito ergo sum” translating to “I think therefore I am”; this phrase is the key concept to Descartes outtake on identity. Descartes certainty regarding the body however was not as