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Descartes and Knowledge of the External World, 2006.
A discussion regarding Descartes' theories of reality and meditations.
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 0 sources, $ 44.95
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Abstract
This paper looks at Descartes' ideas of how one perceives reality and how these ideas of reality or non-reality are determined by the mind. Based on his Meditations, the paper argues against Descartes' idea that there are three different ways the mind perceives things, and only things that do not exist within the person and have a "more perfect" source can truly be said to exist.
From the Paper
"Do we really know what we think we know? Can we really prove the existence of an external world outside of our selves? According to Descartes, humans can and do have knowledge of the external world obtained through our senses and thinking processes. In Descartes' Meditations, he explores the ways in which this knowledge is necessary and how it relates to the ability to prove the existence of God. This paper will examine various aspects of this discussion, specifically looking at the arguments used by Descartes in his Meditations which seek to prove that yes, we can have knowledge of the external world."
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Existence of an External World, 2008.
A critical analysis of the arguments of Rene Descartes and John Locke with regards to the existence of an external world.
1,520 words (approx. 6.1 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 50.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the arguments of Rene Descartes and John Locke with regards to whether or not we can have knowledge of the existence of an external world. The paper shows that there are fundamental problems with both of their arguments and as such, the paper suggests that we are not yet in a position to demonstrate unequivocally that we can have knowledge of the existence of an external world.
From the Paper
"I thus conclude that neither Descartes nor Locke offer me sufficient proof that I can have knowledge of an external world. Descartes' argument fails on the basis that his argument for the existence of God is circular, and thus we have no particular reason to trust our own reasons. And Locke's argument fails because Descartes' arguments effectively destroy the foundation of Locke's argument. But as I have now have shown that I have no sound reason to trust the evidence of my reason, nor any sound reason to trust the evidence of my senses, it follows that there is nothing left on which I may base any confidence that we can have knowledge of the existence of an external world."
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Reality and the External World, 2008.
A comparison of the views of Rene Descartes and George Berkeley on the notion of the external world and how people interact with it.
1,058 words (approx. 4.2 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 37.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the notion that there is an external world and that people generally interact with it in similar manners. It describes and analyzes the philosophies of Rene Descartes and George Berkeley who both attempted to formally justify these notions. Furthermore, the paper compares and contrasts the views of the two philosophers in their explanations of the external world and reality.
From the Paper
"It seems that there is an almost undeniable disconnect between our mental constructions of how the world operates around us--largely through language--and the way in which this world may actually work in an objective sense. Since, according to Berkeley and many others, there may be little logical backing to the notion that an objective, physical reality can ever be reasonably approximated by any of us--because we are so completely committed to our own individual points of view--it has been historically difficult for correspondence theorists to generate a formula by which objective truth can be determined. After all, the linguistic mechanisms that we all make use of every day involve, extensively, relational propositions, universals, predicates, and other functions that fail to unambiguously possess any meaning in the physical world."
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Descartes' Theory of Knowledge, 1994.
An analysis of the rationalist's ideas on experience, senses, the mind, truth and doubt.
1,350 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 5 sources, $ 47.95
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From the Paper
"The problem of knowledge is a key one in philosophy, asking as it does whether there is anything we can really know and whether what we know can be said to be objectively true. Theories of knowledge come under the heading of epistemology. We perceive the world through our sense, but our senses can be deceived. The degree of deception involved also varies according to different views of the world. Some see this deception as absolute and deny that there can be any knowledge at all through the senses. Others admit knowledge acquired through the senses while recognizing that there are limitations. Ren? Descartes was a rationalist, and his thinking was governed by his knowledge of and dedication to mathematics, which he believed could clear up the confusions and uncertainties of philosophy. In this regard, Descartes wished to attain certainty with reference to the..."
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Descartes' Method to Attain Certain Knowledge., 2002.
A discussion of the philosphy of Descartes as it relates to his persuit of true knowledge.
1,400 words (approx. 5.6 pages), 3 sources, $ 53.95
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Abstract
This paper examines how Descartes used the method of putting everything into doubt in order to attain certain knowledge. The first truth he discovered from this method was that perception and experience could not confirm knowledge, but that the significance of an innate idea could. In this exercise, Descartes was able to eliminate the argument that the senses and experiences were humans' sources of knowledge.
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Philosophical Views on Knowledge, 2005.
This paper looks at the views of David Hume and Rene Descartes regarding the subject of knowledge.
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 0 sources, $ 44.95
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Abstract
In this paper the writer outlines the philosophical views of David Hume and Rene Descartes. The writer points out that quite simply, Hume believes that humans experience what can be properly called knowledge and he rebuts the notion that human testimony about "miracles". The writer notes that Descartes may be the father of modern philosophy, but his work is riddled with inconsistencies that make him hard to follow. In any event, the writer explains that Descartes cleaves to a view that knowledge and truth may - or may not - come from an external and omniscient power.
From the Paper
"Hume, as is well known, is an inductionist (it may be said that he is an empirical inductionist) and he holds that knowledge is derived from experience. Hume does not believe that human beings can, by mere inference alone, divine that one pool ball hitting another pool ball will move the second of the two. A priori reasoning will not lead us to the truth of things; that can only be found by examining and observing. He adds that anything that is not proved by experience is mere custom or habit (or superstition). In the end, we can only arrive at true knowledge through inductive reasoning; in other words, we derive fundamental principles from the observation of particular facts or instances."
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Descartes and 'I', 2007.
An analysis of Rene Descartes' approach to the knowledge of the 'I'.
1,660 words (approx. 6.6 pages), 7 sources, MLA, $ 53.95
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Abstract
This paper examines how Descartes' procedure towards the knowledge of the 'I' is extraordinary in that to discover the fundamental principles of philosophy, Descartes skillfully evoked a radical philosophical and scientific method of doubt, classically referred to as hyperbolic doubt. The paper contends that what is radical about Descartes' method of doubt is that it refuses to accept the knowledge and authority of previous philosophers as well as the obviousness of his reasons and senses. For Descartes, anything that could be doubted must be rejected.
From the Paper
"Descartes fantastically opens his Meditations by stating his desire to have only true beliefs. In applying the method of hyperbolic doubt, Descartes is following rules set out by himself into exploration of mathematics and philosophy in Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting the Reason, and Searching for Truth in the Sciences. Descartes started his line of reasoning by doubting everything, so as to assess the world from a fresh perspective, clear of any preconceived notions. Descartes' ultimate aims however are constructive. Unlike common sceptics who doubt purely for the sake of doubting, Descartes aims to reach certainty-to cast aside the "loose earth and sand so as to come upon solid rock" ( Discourse 3, 6:28,29). Descartes' philosophical method was also intended to be a method for science."
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Descartes and Kierkegaard on Faith and Truth, 2002.
This paper discusses Kierkegaard's and Descartes' positions on the knowledge of truth.
1,900 words (approx. 7.6 pages), 2 sources, $ 71.95
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Abstract
The paper examines Kierkegaard's discussion on Abraham having faith in the test that God placed upon him in terms of sacrificing Isaac. Kierkegaard shows how Abraham had a faith that went beyond this world. This is why Kierkegaard writes that "faith begins precisely where thought stops." (Kierkegaard, p.20) This reality of innate knowledge was connected to Descartes' conception of matter. Descartes saw matter as being separate from consciousness. He believed in innate and universal truth.
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Internal and External Environments of Bargain and Haggle, LLC, 2002.
A discussion on the necessity of knowledge about the external environment, competitors, changing marketplace and the regulatory arena of companies in maintaining a competitive edge.
798 words (approx. 3.2 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 28.95
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Abstract
The following paper examines Bargain And Haggle, LLC's external and internal environments, a company formed by an employee-led group from Mindpepper, LLC with the goal of continuing the day-to-day operations, marketing, and customer support www.bargainandhaggle.com. This paper looks at the company's external strengths, weaknesses, external threats and business strategies.
From the Paper
"Bargain and Haggle?s customers are bargain-hunters, looking for a deal on anything from their next pair of shoes to a house. The advantages of the business are it is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is faster and easier than buying at an on-site store, new items can be purchased and old items sold, and the prices are cheaper than retail.
The competitors of Bargain and Haggle include Ebay, Half.com, TJ Maxx, and EZ Pawn Corp. Ebay and Half.com are very similar to Bargain and Haggle because a customer can both buy and sell on-line. The difference is that eBay.com is the most popular shopping site on the Internet. eBay offers online trading and buying in the auction-style and fixed price on a local, national and international basis."
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Rene Descartes and the Certainty of Mind, 2008.
A look at the argument of the certainty of the mind over external physicality in Rene Descartes' "Meditations on First Philosophy".
938 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 1 source, APA, $ 33.95
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Abstract
This paper analyzes the greater certainty of mind over the physical external world in the philosophy of Rene Descartes. It discusses how by understanding the origins of thought in the mind, the presence of external objects are only perceived through this organ of the human body. It looks at how therefore, Descartes viewed the external world as unknowable by the mind because he viewed the human conscious as an internal and separate distinction from reality. In essence, the paper shows how Descartes provides a philosophical argument that provides a greater certainty of the mind over the external physical world in his "Meditations on First Philosophy. "
From the Paper
"This describes the inherent sense of unknowing that pertains to understanding the physical body that the unreasoning human mind cannot grasp on its own. Descartes uses the example of the human body to determine the nature of the external world outside of the mind to logically deduce that the mind is a limited tool for discerning what is real and what is not. This provides the premise that although Descartes is able to feel and know the human body, the whimsical nature of the human mind often prevents logical reasoning to bring light to external realities. "
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Theories of Knowledge, 2004.
This paper discusses that the ?theories of knowledge? of the philosophers, Rene Descartes and John Locke, are fundamentally different from one another in the areas of rationalism and empiricism.
815 words (approx. 3.3 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 29.95
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Abstract
The paper explains that John Locke?s essential theory of knowledge, ideas, and experience expresses so called ?innate truths?, or principles, which do not fit the definition of ?idea.? The author points out that, on the other hand, Descartes argues that knowledge based on the senses is not knowledge simply because ideas based on external senses may change or be distorted; therefore, for him, knowledge must be based on the mind, as it is unaffected by external stimuli. The paper concludes that, in the end, it seems that both philosophies have their drawbacks, as well as their strengths; therefore, many consider the true nature of knowledge to be found somewhere in the middle.
From the Paper
"Locke also arrived at conclusions considering the ?self,? and knowledge of the self in his writings. He believes that the reality of ?self? is apparent in awareness. This means that all conscious ideas and experiences are hallmarks of the reality of the existence of the self, and one?s awareness of all conscious ideas, senses and experience forces one to conclude in one?s existence. Similarly, Descartes agrees that the existence of the self is proven by every state of awareness."
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Knowledge-Based System Applications, 2002.
A review of knowledge acquisition for knowledge-based system applications.
8,801 words (approx. 35.2 pages), 40 sources, MLA, $ 184.95
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Abstract
In this paper, an overview is provided of knowledge acquisition as it relates to expert systems. After this, specific knowledge acquisition methodologies and techniques are reviewed that have been used in the development of knowledge-based systems. Subsequently, information is provided on recent advances in knowledge acquisition. Finally, future trends based on recent developments are discussed.
Overview of Knowledge Acquisition
First Generation Knowledge Acquisition Methodological Approaches
Second Generation Knowledge Acquisition Methodological Approaches
Knowledge Acquisition Techniques by Interaction with the Expert
Interviewing
Case Study
Protocol Analysis
Critiquing
Role Playing
Simulation
Prototyping
Rapid Application Development and Joint Application Development
Teachback
Observation
Goal Related
List Related
Construct Elicitation
Sorting
Laddering
20 Questions
Document Analysis
Recent Developments in Knowledge Acquisition
Future Directions
References
From the Paper
"Knowledge acquisition represents a field of artificial intelligence focused on the development of methods, techniques and tools for building expert system knowledge bases. During the 1970s and 1980s, most researchers and practitioners believed that knowledge should be acquired via a process involving a knowledge engineer, who interviews a domain expert regarding the knowledge domain of interest. The knowledge engineer was then responsible for organizing and formalizing the extracted knowledge to the point that it was appropriate for processing by a knowledge-based system. After processing was completed, the extracted knowledge could then be tested by presenting example problems to the knowledge-based system."
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Knowledge in Philosophy, 2002.
Examines the views of Descartes, Locke, Reid and Berkeley on knowledge and perception.
1,150 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 1 source, $ 44.95
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Abstract
This paper will discuss how knowledge can never truly be explained outside of human perception and will be elucidated by the speculatory writings of Descartes, Reid, Locke and Berkeley. By understanding how the process of knowledge is gathered by some of these expositions on perception, we can surely see how the senses are highly susceptible to doubtful arrangements of knowledge because they are so easily influenced by illusion. Although some of the great thinkers make it clear that there is a sort of knowledge that cannot be gathered from the sense, we can see how the theories of Descartes are wrong and can never be proven.
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Knowledge Management, 2004.
A discussion on whether it is possible for an organisation to develop a knowledge base which is more than the sum of its individual employees? knowledge.
3,065 words (approx. 12.3 pages), 17 sources, MLA, $ 89.95
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Abstract
This paper examines how knowledge management is one of the hottest subjects in management studies due to the changing paradigm of management as we enter the 21st century. It attempts to show that it is possible for an organisation to develop a knowledge base, which is more than the sum of its individual employees? knowledge. It reviews the guidance given by the management literature and considers some of the important points. It also looks at some companies that have been successful in their implementation of a knowledge management system.
Outline
Introduction
Knowledge Management
Knowledge Creation
Learning Organisation
Obstacles to Creating a Knowledge Base
Knowledge Sharing
Characteristics of an Effective KM System
Knowledge Management ? 2 Different Opinions
Success Stories
Conclusions
From the Paper
"KPMG recently surveyed over 400 organisations in the UK, mainland Europe and the US and found ?81% had or were considering a knowledge management program, 79% believed that knowledge management can play an ?extremely significant? or ?significant? role in improving competitive advantage?. (KPGM Knowledge management Research Report) Similarly, a survey by PriceWaterhouseCoopers showed that 97 % of senior executives believe that ?knowledge management is a critical issue for them?. A more telling survey conducted by Tacit was that of individuals working at the interface between creating/using knowledge. In a survey of professional, managerial, and technical knowledge workers Tacit investigated employees opinion on how their employers handled knowledge sharing. The findings of the Tacit survey illustrate a serious problem, valuable knowledge is available &/or created within the organisation, but is not utilised efficiently."
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Knowledge, 2002.
A discussion of Descartes and Locke on the concepts of knowledge.
1,650 words (approx. 6.6 pages), 1 source, $ 62.95
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Abstract
This essay examines Descartes' and Locke's method of of developing knowledge. The first truth he discovered was that perception and experience could not confirm knowledge, but that the significance of an innate idea could. He denied that the senses and experiences were humans' sources of knowledge. Locke argued that experience and perception were the sources knowledge.
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