Descarte 2Nd Med Essay, Research Paper
Tutorial Paper
Questions
1. Locate Cogito argument and say how it is supposed to go.
2. Locate 2nd argument and say how it is supposed to go.
Within his second meditation Descartes seeks “to save himself from the general seas of skepticism ” (Blackburn, 1999, p 20). In other words he attempts to limit the all-consuming spread of doubt brought about by the evil demon hypothesis. Descartes holds that the Cogito argument establishes this point of certainty, this belief he can be certain is true, even if he is dreaming, or God or an evil demon is trying to deceive him as fully as possible. To be more specific “Cogito, ergo sum,” translates to “I think, therefore I am,” (Blackburn, 1999, p 20) and this forms the basis of Descartes belief in the certainty that if nothing else, he exists. Following this conclusion Descartes then argues that our clearest perception of ourselves is of ourselves as thinking things. In this paper I will aim to analyze the above two arguments.
The cogito argument is located in the second paragraph of the meditation. Descartes wonders if the doubt can extend even to his own existence. But discovers that even reverting back to the evil demon hypothesis, if he is deceiving me I must exist in order to be deceived. Thus he states “I am, I exist, is necessarily true, every time I express it or conceive it in my own mind.” So the premise follows that whenever I am thinking, I will have clear and distinct perception that I am thinking. So Descartes does not claim to know he has existed through time, but only that he exists at the moment of the thought, for the evil demon could have planted false memories. The proposition I am, I exist, doesn’t rely on the idea that he is assured that he thinks. He has the view that thinking is self-intimating and all thinking is fully available to consciousness. He also has to defend against the proposition that ‘I think, therefore I am,’ is privileged over for example a proposition ‘I breathe, therefore I am’ or ‘I walk, therefore I am.’ It seems Descartes believes that while the evil demon can make me think falsely that I breathe and walk, but when thinking thoughts that I am aware that I am thinking, I can be confident that I exist.
The point is that it is impossible to doubt the truth of the proposition that ‘I exist’, when one thinks it.
So now whilst Descartes is faced with the question ‘but what kind of thinking thing am I?’ This leads me to his second argument which begins in fourth paragraph. Descartes divides up the faculties of the mind into three parts: sensation, perception and imagination. Descartes uses that wax to illustrate that what is essential to the wax is any properties, which I cannot think away, for he looses the top three faculties to the evil demon. Descartes argues that it is the contribution of ones own intellect, of ones understanding or conception, which leads to the inference or idea of the wax. Thinking is my understanding of and response to my perceptions, that it is conception and rationality that will help him off his rock. Thus the idea of clear and distinct perception of conception is assumed and it is this Descartes argue that will help him off his rock. But because Descartes can only count of this perception, he returns to that fact that the only thing he can really know about himself is that he exists as a thinking being.
So in conclusion Descartes through the cogito argument manages to stop the spread of doubt, however in his second argument he is unable to discover any more of himself than that he existed as a thinking thing.
Другие работы по теме:
Poem Fading Away Essay Research Paper as
Poem: Fading Away Essay, Research Paper as i gaze at the falling rain trying to get away from all the pain som uch tension rising in the air dying inside does anyone care
Pshilosophy What Is Knowledge Essay Research Paper
When examining knowledge or a proper account, many factors have to be taken under consideration. What is a proper account? Obviously it is good evidence for belief; something which Descarteś has laid out for us by definition. His findings include being able to analyze the elements, listing them and telling how they fit together.
Romeo An Juliet Essay Research Paper hi
Romeo An Juliet Essay, Research Paper hi i need an essay about a character in romeo and juliet that demonsrtated maturity. in a well developed multi pagraph essay and say why you think the character’s maturity was greater than the other characters in the play.
Innate Ideas Rene Descartes And John Locke
Essay, Research Paper Throughout the passage of time, philosophers have written and discussed many topics in philosophy. Sometimes, these philosophers agree on ideas or sometimes they make their own assumptions. There are two philosophers who had different ideas concerning where innate ideas come from and how we get these types of ideas.
Oh Really Essay Research Paper Oh Reallyyou
Oh Really? Essay, Research Paper Oh Really, you think i am a lark, the dogs they run and bark, but when i say to them, shut up shut up shut up, you say to be nice to them,
Shane Essay Research Paper Sometimes I need
Shane Essay, Research Paper Sometimes, I need you more than I need air And sometimes I miss you more than I will forever, never forget the times that we have shaared. The are priceless
Poem Belong Essay Research Paper Where I
Poem: Belong Essay, Research Paper Where I belong I am weak, I am strong I will fit where I belong don’t know where it is for now but it will come, if I allow tomorrow, I start a brand new day
Him Essay Research Paper I think about
Him Essay, Research Paper I think about him day and night The though won’t go away And, oh, how I would hold him tight every second of the day He is perfect, that is true, not an average me or you
Poem She Sat Essay Research Paper She
Poem: She Sat Essay, Research Paper She sat… helpless in her room praying to whatever god there may be to let her call to him. could god ignore such a painful cry?
Descarte Essay Research Paper The purpose of
Descarte Essay, Research Paper The purpose of this paper will be to examine Descartes’ argument for the existence of God. First we will review Descartes’ proof for the existence of God. Then we will discuss the reasons that Descartes has for proving God’s existence. We will also discuss some consequences that appear as a result of God’s existence.
School Essay Research Paper School Where
School Essay, Research Paper School! Where did they come up with that name? I guess because it rhymes with lame Now this rhyme you read will be quite corny Please don’t get upset, mad, or horny
Ode To Boys Essay Research Paper We
Ode To Boys Essay, Research Paper We like them But do they like us The ones we do never fuss They don’t stop in And we wonder why We stress, we bitch We sometimes cry
Basic Html Essay Research Paper There are
Basic Html Essay, Research Paper There are six basic steps you must follow in order to create a web page in HTML. For those who don t know what it HTML is, it is the coding language that is used to create, develop, and maintain these WebPages such as Yahoo, MSN, Altavista, etc. Although there are other complex languages such as XML and DHTML, they are derived from the basics of HTML.
Crying Again Essay Research Paper The Sky
Crying Again Essay, Research Paper The Sky is crying again And i am crying again. When did it start? When will it end? How’d i wind up with out a friend? Tears from my heart cling to my soul.
Descarte 2 Essay Research Paper How can
Descarte 2 Essay, Research Paper How can we know if we are a brain in a vat? Can we be sure that we are not the playthings of evil demons? These questions have been discussed by many philosophers in the past and still we do not have a proof that we are not some demon s plaything. Yet, at least two prominent philosophers, Ren Descartes and John Locke believed there are ways to prove that we are not brains in vats.
Life Is Like Essay Research Paper Life
Life Is Like Essay, Research Paper Life is like a car. When it?s new, it usually works all right. As time drives by, it breaks down and needs repairs. Life is like a leaf. In its youth, it
Hell Day Essay Research Paper Hell day
Hell Day Essay, Research Paper Hell day is a fun day where everything is like a burn day. If you would listen you could learn about this day and be apart of this day. If you are wise then you will relize that hell day is satans Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dare Essay Essay Research Paper What DARE
Dare Essay Essay, Research Paper What D.A.R.E Means To Me Dare has prepared me to say no to drugs in eight different ways. If anyone asks me to do drugs I will know what to do, such as- just ignoring the person or just
The Playground Essay Research Paper I have
The Playground Essay, Research Paper I have a friend I used to know who had a playground where we would go The times we had are fresh in my mind but they are from another time
How To Writing A Research Essay Essay
, Research Paper How To Writing A Research Essay The toughest part of the essay, for me, was taking all the information I had gained and reduce it to a mere few pages essay. After all, quality is better