principle of the uniformity of nature‚ inductively and deductively; Hume claims that PUN cannot be justified either way because to attempt to justify the principle inductively would be fallacious in the sense that it ends in a circular argument. To attempt to justify the principle deductively would also be impossible: one would need premises strong enough to prove with certainty that PUN is real which is nonviable. I will explain why Hume is correct in the sense that the principle cannot be supported
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Method of Doubt Rene Descartes (1596-1650)‚ a French philosopher and mathematician‚ is best known for his Meditations of Philosophy. This form of philosophy is a body of work in which he attempts to wipe away all his presumptions‚ rebuilding his knowledge from the ground up‚ and accepting as true only those claims which are absolutely certain. It was essential that the foundations to his beliefs were solid; if any one of them were at all in doubt‚ he would lose credibility for his entire structure
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Locke‚ Berkeley & Hume Enlightenment began with an unparalleled confidence in human reason. The new science’s success in making clear the natural world through Locke‚ Berkeley‚ and Hume affected the efforts of philosophy in two ways. The first is by locating the basis of human knowledge in the human mind and its encounter with the physical world. Second is by directing philosophy’s attention to an analysis of the mind that was capable of such cognitive success. John Locke set the tone for enlightenment
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In the second meditation of his Meditations on First Philosophy‚ Rene Descartes argues that it is possible to doubt the existence of the body‚ while it is impossible to doubt the mind. Following this logic‚ the mind must exist while the body may simply be a product of elaborate deception. He comes to this conclusion through relentlessly doubting every aspect of his existence while simultaneously assuming the presence of a “very powerful and very cunning” deceiver who “ever employs his ingenuity of
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Descartes’ Third Meditation The Existence of God Summary of First Meditation He demolished everything he had learned‚ and started over again right from the foundations Disproves one aspect of every falsehood Tries to find a certain base of certitude for actions Explains a theory that madmen’s behaviour is a personification of dreams States that all we know is truly a deception Summary of Second Meditation He questions himself‚ about the idea that he is a rational animal
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Descartes: Proof of God’s existence and human error Unlike considerations emanating from theologians as to how proof that their God‚ defined as an active being by itself‚ was not an invention‚ the demonstration Descartes does regarding the proof of the existence of God and therefore the human error is simple: it shows God from man. Descartes says‚ "I would not have the idea of an infinite substance‚ me as a finite being‚ if it had been placed in me by some substance that was truly infinite."
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Descartes argued that all an individual can truly know is information that is irrefutable. Any knowledge that creates the slightest amount of doubt cannot be considered true knowledge. Contrary‚ Zhuangzi believed that there is no definite truth. He argued that one cannot truly know anything for certain because knowledge is individualistic. Both philosophers have different perspectives on what can actually be considered true knowledge; therefore‚ in my essay‚ I will be describing what one can truly
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In this essay I will evaluate the arguments by Descartes about animals which he uses in order to verify his arguments on the immortality of the soul. In turn I will evaluate the more contemporary arguments of Peter Singer put forward mainly in his book Animal Liberation.’ The concept of animal sanctity branches as far back as one can imagine. In ancient times animals were considered to have intelligence and even a language all of their own. This was an early view on animals stemming from pre-agrarian
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and good comes from God‚ but evil comes from us. Additionally‚ he is convinced that God exists because he can clearly and distinctly perceive that idea‚ but he can trust his clear and distinct idea because he knows that God exists. In conclusion‚ Descartes arguments seem very convincing at first‚ but after detailed analysis‚ it still remains unclear‚ which leaves problem of error
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Epistemology is the study of how we acquire knowledge and justify our beliefs. Descartes promoted a rationalist epistemology through his masterwork Meditations on First Philosophy (1641)‚ which were designed to build a theory of knowledge from the ground up. Rationalism states that knowledge is acquired through the use of reason. In contrast‚ John Locke promoted empiricist epistemology through his Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Empiricism is any view which bases our knowledge‚ or the materials
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