Why Does Descartes Use The Hypothesis Of An Evil Genius?
1. For Descartes, how do we know if a belief is good enough to be our foundation? What is the hyperbolic or absolute doubt?
- We can know if a belief is good enough for our foundation by judging whether or not Descartes is successful by biasing his previous held beliefs to be justified. By doing so with conclusive reasons so that the beliefs are true. The hyperbolic doubt is used as a cover up to what Descartes says to be true.
2. Why does Descartes use the hypothesis of an evil genius? Is it not enough to say that we could be dreaming? What can be doubted on this new hypothesis and what cannot?
- Descartes uses the hypothesis of an “evil genius” meaning he himself exist as a thinking thing. He wants to get out that there are things out
there that exist. I believe it is enough to say that we could be dreaming. The reason being is because in one of his hypothesis Descartes begins to question himself which leads to start to believing there is a God.
3. In Meditation 2, Descartes says he is seeking an Archimedean point of certainty? Does he find it?
- No. Descartes does not find the “point of certainty” that he is looking for until later on in the Meditations.
4. Does Descartes agree that bodies are more distinctly known than minds? Explain the example of the wax (meditation 2) and what it means
-Descartes does not agree that the bodies are more distinctly known than minds. He justifies this by using a example of wax. He starts the example off by stating to watch a piece of wax and its senses. Then after observing the wax for a while you heat it up and watch it change. We are only allowed to see that it changes physically. In conclusion, this means that senses are more important which the mind is.
5. Would you say Descartes’ position is rationalist or empiricist? Why?
-I would say Descartes’ position is rationalist. The reason being is because a rationalist view of possession says that some or all concepts are innate and based on his idea of God he is so.
- We can know if a belief is good enough for our foundation by judging whether or not Descartes is successful by biasing his previous held beliefs to be justified. By doing so with conclusive reasons so that the beliefs are true. The hyperbolic doubt is used as a cover up to what Descartes says to be true.
2. Why does Descartes use the hypothesis of an evil genius? Is it not enough to say that we could be dreaming? What can be doubted on this new hypothesis and what cannot?
- Descartes uses the hypothesis of an “evil genius” meaning he himself exist as a thinking thing. He wants to get out that there are things out
there that exist. I believe it is enough to say that we could be dreaming. The reason being is because in one of his hypothesis Descartes begins to question himself which leads to start to believing there is a God.
3. In Meditation 2, Descartes says he is seeking an Archimedean point of certainty? Does he find it?
- No. Descartes does not find the “point of certainty” that he is looking for until later on in the Meditations.
4. Does Descartes agree that bodies are more distinctly known than minds? Explain the example of the wax (meditation 2) and what it means
-Descartes does not agree that the bodies are more distinctly known than minds. He justifies this by using a example of wax. He starts the example off by stating to watch a piece of wax and its senses. Then after observing the wax for a while you heat it up and watch it change. We are only allowed to see that it changes physically. In conclusion, this means that senses are more important which the mind is.
5. Would you say Descartes’ position is rationalist or empiricist? Why?
-I would say Descartes’ position is rationalist. The reason being is because a rationalist view of possession says that some or all concepts are innate and based on his idea of God he is so.