The Utility of Radical Doubt

Paper Summary:

The paper assesses how the function of doubt in Descartes' "Meditations on First Philosophy" plays an important role in establishing a core foundation upon which the author constructs the superstructure of his philosophical system. The premise of the paper is that the function of radical doubt in Descartes' philosophy lies in how, through the device of the omnipotent Demon and his deceptions, it allows him to clear philosophical ground of opinions that may be in some respect flawed or illogical, and thereby construct an edifice of knowledge from first principles.

From the Paper:

"In Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy the exercise of doubting plays an important role in establishing a core foundation upon which Descartes constructs the superstructure of his philosophical system. This essay will argue the thesis that the function of radical doubt in Descartes' philosophy lies in how, through the device of the omnipotent Demon and his deceptions, it allows him to clear philosophical ground of opinions that may be in some respect flawed or illogical, and thereby construct a edifice of knowledge from first principles. In the opening of Meditation Descartes reveals that the utility of doubting lies in its capacity to remove from his thinking "false opinions" that may otherwise cloud or obscure his logical analysis."

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