Essay, Research Paper
Can Descartes be certain that he is thinking? How? Can he be certain that he exists? How? (And who is he?)Descartes? statement ?I think therefore I exist? raises questions about the meaning of thought, the meaning of existence but most fundamentally, in what sense he can be certain. The difficulty in establishing the certainty of ?I think? and ?I exist? is that the two concepts are interrelated. Thus, for example, differing interpretations of what it is to think will have a profound impact on the question of whether Descartes can achieve the certainty of his existence. The success of his attempt to achieve certainty can be analysed in relation to how far he overcomes the universal doubt he has introduced in the first meditation. It is in this sphere of meaning that ?I? becomes very relevant as it is possible to argue that his use of ?I? demonstrates that his own interpretation of what is certain is partially based on intrinsically held beliefs.
Williams describes the statement ?I think? as indubitable. This is because ?if anyone believes he is thinking or that he exists then necessarily he has a true belief.? Using the Cartesian method, the statement that ?I think? is unique because it is the only premise that has the property of having its truth confirmed by the act of doubting it. Descartes demonstrates that he has found a statement that is not defeated by the possibility of a ?malicious demon? when he says ?If I am in doubt, if I am entertaining the possibility that I might be deceived, then the very fact that I am around to entertain that doubt shows that I must exist?. Thus he is already assuming that his ability to entertain doubt, or ?think? is certain, which based on the premise above, is a not unreasonable conclusion.
Before further examining his assertion that he is thinking, the question of what Descartes means by thinking must be defined. In the simplest form, possible definitions of what it is to think can be separated into ?wide and ?narrow? definitions. In the second meditation, he appears to define thinking in terms of all conscious acts when he describes a thing that thinks as ?a thing that doubts, understands, affirms, denies, is willing, is unwilling and also imagines and has sensory perceptions?. Williams makes the point that the translation of the Latin verb ?cogitare? and the French verb ?penser? have wider meaning than the English ?to think?. They relate to any conscious state or activity. However, if Descartes? definition of thought was really this broad it would need to be possible to assert that having sensory perceptions was indubitable as the ability to think. However, as he asserts in the first meditation, it is not the case to believe that ?I have sensory perceptions? necessarily makes it a true belief. Despite this difficulty, Descartes? inclusion of, among others, imagination in the above definition of thinking demonstrates that he clearly does not interpret thinking in the narrow sense of being just a cognitive act of the intellectual kind. However, as Cottingham shows, this is partially the fault of categorising the definitions of what it is to think to rigidly. When Descartes says that it is necessary to doubt, understand etc. he is actually referring to the ability to be aware of these rather than being able to control the activities in their own right. Thus the assertion that ?I am aware that I have sensory perceptions? is as indubitable as ?I am aware that? and is thus equated with ?I think?. Williams describes this as Descartes? willingness to ?sheer off ? purely mental experience. Thus the conclusion can be reached that ?thought? can be defined as ?that of which I am immediately aware?.
To return to the question of how he can be certain that he has a true belief, Williams writes that Descartes? certainty that he thinks is based not just on its incorrigibility, but also on its self verifying nature. If Descartes asserts ?I think? then this must be true because the act of thinking the statement, proves it. Of course, ?I think? is the only concept that can be self verified ? thinking ?I exist? does not make it true.
Prioritising the importance of the relationship between ?I think? and ?I exist? is where Hintikka?s performative interpretation becomes relevant. This interpretation states that the ?very act of thinking makes it true?. Therefore an argument for the certainty of ?I think? is that Descartes himself has made it true. However, it can also be claimed that this leads to the question of whether it is important that Descartes is certain that he thinks. The very act of thinking means that he is doing it and therefore consideration of whether he is certain he is thinking or not may be deemed redundant in a particularly pure interpretation of the cogito. In contrast, ?I exist? is not performative and thus it is ?I exist? that needs to be established as certain. In a roundabout way, the performative interpretation brings the same result as the self-verifying interpretation of the cogito. This line of argument leads to the question of whether ?I think? is necessary as a reflexive proposition at all, or rather is only important as the process by which it is possible to become aware of the certainty of ?I exist?
If it is argued that thinking is not the just the process of recognising ?I exist? to be indubitable but rather, that being able to establish ?I think? as indubitable provides grounds for concluding ?I exist?, than it is necessary to describe what these grounds are. Thus if this is the purpose of ?I think? then the implication is that is it possible to infer ?I exist? from ?I think?. Thus commentators on Descartes such as Burnham have tried to establish whether the cogito can be said to be a Syllogistic inference. It has been argued that Descartes provides the minor premise ?I am thinking? and the conclusion ?I exist? and therefore it is possible to define the major premise as ?whatever is thinking, exists?, demonstrating a syllogistic inference. This claim would appear to be supported by the use of ?therefore? in the cogito, which does imply an inference.
However, Descartes himself expresses this interpretation as a profound misunderstanding of his point. Firstly this argument fails on the basis of his inability to have previous knowledge of the major premise ?whatever is thinking, exists?. In his reply to the Second Objection, Descartes states this point and adds that ?when someone says ?I am thinking, therefore I am, or exist?, he does not deduce existence from thought by means of a syllogism but recognises it as something self evident from a simple intuition of the mind. His point is that the conclusion he has reached is based of what is self-evident from what he has perceived in himself. However, Williams insists that his ?should not be interpreted as a purely psychological point that the experience of grasping the Cogito is that of an instantaneous insight.? According to Williams, Descartes does believe that there is a link between thinking and existing. However, rather than assert ?Everything that thinks, exists?, he asserts ?It is impossible to think without existing?, the difference being that this alternative expression of the link can be intuitively grasped as it does not relate to the outside world. It makes sense that Descartes is unable to make his existential claim that ?everything that thinks, exists? on the basis that he cannot presuppose things to be in existence. Thus one interpretation of the use of ?I? in the cogito is that it is a demonstration of the fact that his conclusions are based on what he has perceived within himself, not externally.
In opposition to this interpretation of the use of ?I?, Lichtenberg claimed that the most Descartes could claim was that ?there is thinking going on.? In fact what Lichtenberg criticises is exactly the fact that Descartes? conclusions are based on what he has perceived and not the objective case of an outside observer. He is claiming that Descartes has not basis to assume that there is ?a thinker? as opposed to thoughts going on. There are two responses to this interpretation of the use of ?I?. Firstly that the ?I? is a replacement for ?here? in terms of providing a necessary sphere in which two thoughts such as ?I think? and ?I exist? can be related to each other. However, this argument would not actually enable Descartes to make the connection between ?I think? and ?I exist? in the way that he has claimed to as the ?I? would purely be a means for relating the concepts and thus Descartes would have no way of perceiving things in himself. A more consistent reply is that the concept of an outside observer is not possible within Cartesian reflection because the only way of conceiving a thought happening is to conceive of thinking it.
In the terms of the above argument, Descartes? claim that his conclusions are based on self-evident intuition is consistent with his method of doubt. However, in terms of this same Cartesian method, there appears to be a fundamental problem with the claim that Descartes can be certain that he exists. He claims that he bases his conclusions on instincts that he calls ?natural light? and are therefore presupposed. A fundamental example is his belief in the intuitive grasping of the link between thinking and existing. In discourse four, he expresses this when he says that there is nothing that assures him he is speaking the truth other than conceiving ?very clearly and very distinctly.? Thus Descartes is unable to claim to become certain of his own existence on the basis of the method of doubt expressed in the first meditation. He is forced to rely upon (if naturally intuitive) presuppositions in terms of being certain of his own being.
354
Другие работы по теме:
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.
Only The Mind Percives Essay Research Paper
Descartes’ overall objective in Meditations on First Philosophy is to question knowledge. To explore such issues as the existence of God and the separation of mind and body, it was important for him to distinguish what we can know as truth. He believed that reason as opposed to experience was the source for discovering what is of absolute certainty.
Descartes And The Material World Essay Research
Paper Can you doubt that the material world exists? If you can’t, does it follow that Descartes’ method of doubt is useless?It is very difficult to know for certain if the material world exists or not because we are dealing with metaphysical philosophy. Metaphysical philosophy is the branch of philosophy concerned with the basic nature of reality.
Descarted Meditations Essay Research Paper Clear and
Descarted Meditations Essay, Research Paper Clear and Distinct Perception: An Analysis Of Rene Descartes Rene Descartes? Meditations in the First Philosophy is a skeptic?s speculation on certain inalienable truths. Descartes meditations are based on the epistemological theory of rationalism: that is if someone truly knows something then they could not possibly be mistaken.
Can We Ever Reach Certainty Essay Research
Paper First, I would like to quote Descartes: “Cogito, ergo sum” – I think, therefor I am. He said this, because he didn’t know weather he knew if he existed or not. Descartes thought like this: I know that I’m dreaming, but I don’t know if it’s reality or dream, I doubt. But because I doubt, I think, and if I am thinking, I am a human, thinking, being, and therefor – I exist – “Cogito, ergo sum”.
Rene Descartes The Search Of Knowledge Essay
, Research Paper As I sit and ponder how I am going to write this paper, it accurse to me that I may not be writing this paper at all. How, I ask myself, can this be possible? I can feel the keys under my fingers, hear their distinct clicks as I press them, and I can see my writing on the screen. Yet all of these things are sensory based, and I wonder if my senses can be trusted as certainty.
Descartes And Berkeley On Skepticism About The
Senses Essay, Research Paper Descartes and Berkeley on Skepticism About the Senses The philosophers Geroge Berkeley and Renee Descartes both had strong opinions on skepticism about the senses. In this paper, I
Descartes Essay Research Paper Everyday we are
Descartes Essay, Research Paper Everyday we are bombarded with various forms of stimuli. We see many people, we hear cars drive by, we feel the cool breeze, etc, but how can we prove that we are really experiencing these stimuli? That is the question that Rene Descartes asked some three hundred fifty years ago, is there anything real in this world? Descartes concluded that at least his mind existed because he was thinking, which led to him saying ?Cogito ergo sum? which means I think therefore I am.
Rene Descrates Essay Research Paper While the
Rene Descrates Essay, Research Paper While the great philosophical distinction between mind and body in western thought can be traced to the Greeks, it is to the seminal work of Ren? Descartes (1596-1650) [see figure 1], French mathematician, philosopher, and physiologist, that we owe the first systematic account of the mind/body relationship.
Descartes And Hume Essay Research Paper Skepticism
Descartes And Hume Essay, Research Paper Skepticism is the philosophical belief that doubts whether or not any of our knowledge is true. Hume as well as Descartes have a complex relationship with skepticism. In several of their works, the philosophers respond to skepticism through the use of skepticism.
Descartes Epistemology Essay Research Paper Descartes epistemology
Descartes Epistemology Essay, Research Paper Descartes epistemology is known as foundationalism. In his Meditations, Descartes tries to discover certain, indubitable foundations for knowledge. He is searching for absolute certainty, and does this by subjecting everything to doubt. Through this he reaches the one thing he believes to be certain, his existence.
Hume Hobbes And Descartes Essay Research Paper
Hume, Hobbes, and Descartes Rene Descartes, Thomas Hobbes and David Hume are well known philosophers of the time. These three men were after the truth. The truth about life. The truth about how one exists. The truth about the world around them. They questioned, thought, and reasoned. This is what they did.
The Life Of Rene
’ Descartes Essay, Research Paper Rene’ Descartes was a French mathematician, philosopher and anatomist. He contributed a great deal to modern ideas , particularly those concerned with geometry. He
Rene Descartes Essay Research Paper Rene Descartes
Rene Descartes Essay, Research Paper Rene Descartes was one of the most influential thinkers in the history of the philosophy. Born in 1596, he lived to become a great mathematician, scientist, and philosopher. In fact, he became one of the central intellectual figures of the sixteen hundreds. He is believed by some to be the father of modern philosophy, although he was hampered by living in a time when other prominent scientists, such as Galileo, were persecuted for their discoveries and beliefs.
Hobbes Vs Descartes Essay Research Paper The
Hobbes Vs Descartes Essay, Research Paper The question I chose to answer was number 3. Contrast Descartes thoughts of the mind against Hobbes thoughts. The paper will consist of the strengths and weaknesses of Cartesian Dualism. Cartesian Dualism claims the independent existence of a non-physical realm and a physical realm.
Descartes Meditations Essay Research Paper Analyze in
Descartes Meditations Essay, Research Paper Analyze in detail Descartes First Meditation and the beginning of the Second Meditation. Do you believe Montaigne could not reply to Descartes and therefore that Descartes has succeeded in defeating skepticism? Descartes First Meditation sought out to offer reasons to doubt everything in order to, after taking doubt into consideration, discover what we of what we believe is true.
Descartes First Meditation Essay Research Paper Descartes
Descartes First Meditation Essay, Research Paper Descartes first meditation, his main objective is to present three skeptical arguments to bring doubt upon what he considers his basic beliefs. Descartes believes this to be an intricate part of his complete epistemological argument. Descartes skeptical arguments are not intended to be a denial of his basic beliefs.
Explication Of The Cogito Essay Research Paper
In his Meditations, Rene Descartes attempts to prove the existence and reality of himself and things external to himself. In order to fulfill such a feat, Descartes decides to doubt all that he knows, for he knows not whether that can be relied upon. He doubts his knowledge for three main reasons.
Distinction Between Mind And Body Essay Research
Paper Distinction between Mind and Body In Descartes Meditation VI, he takes on the task of explaining his ideas of the distinction between the mind and body. Descartes claims that they are in fact two separate and distinct things. These ideas initiate many objections from his contemporaries because if their very different beliefs.
Descartes Knowledge Essay Research Paper Descartes Essay
Descartes Knowledge Essay, Research Paper Descartes (Essay #1) Rob Hewitt 9711732 Wednesday October 21, 1998 Justin E. A. Busch The question of our existence in reality is a question which philosophers have tackled throughout time. This essay will look at the phrase, cogito ergo sum or I think therefore I am, a phrase brought about by Rene Descartes.
Descartes Used The Existence O Essay Research
Paper Descartes used the existence of God as a foundation for all of his thinking. In the time of Descartes, the Catholic Church played a very important role in everyone life, including the life of Descartes. Descartes grew up and remained as a Catholic all his life. So being a Catholic, Descartes has to prove the existence of his belief before he prove anything around him existed.
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.
Hume And Descartes On The Theory Of
Ideas Essay, Research Paper Hume and Descartes on The Theory of Ideas David Hume and Rene Descartes are philosophers with opposing views about the origination of ideas. Descartes believed there were three types of ideas
Socrates And Descartes On Dualism Essay Research
Paper Socrates and Descartes on Dualism Dualism means the complete separation of the mental world and the physical world. In philosophy, it is the theory that the universe is explicable only as a whole composed of two distinct and mutually exclusive factors: the mind and the body. Socrates and Plato are called dualists because they think that mind and body are separate and distinct substances.
On Descartes Meditations I
& Ii Essay, Research Paper On Descartes Meditations I & II Descartes uses his Meditations on First Philosophy to consider one of philosophy s greatest questions: what is truth? He dedicates this writing to outlining a rational, logical process of determining the answer, as well as his own conclusions in the matter.
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.
The Soul Essay Research Paper Out of
The Soul Essay, Research Paper Out of all the philosophers we have examined in this unit, Ren? Descartes (On Thinking and the Soul) presents the best argument about what a soul and body are. In contrast, I believe that Locke?s interpretation of the body, mind, soul and self was my least favorite interpretation.
Descartes Essay Research Paper Descartes Ren
Descartes Essay, Research Paper Descartes, Ren Ren Descartes was born on March 31, 1596 and died on February 11, 1650. Ren Descartes was a man of many things. He was a French mathematician, philosopher and scientist. He made contributions to the theory of equations and his rule of signs, but the most distinguished contribution that Descartes made to the world of mathematics was analytic geometry.
The Second Meditation I Think Therefore I
Am Essay, Research Paper THE SECOND MEDITATION: I THINK THEREFORE I AM ——————————————— “The first precept was never to accept a thing as true until I knew it as such without a single doubt.”