Abstract This paper examines ReneeDescartes' "Meditations", and explains that within this writing, he justifies his faith in reason by a circuitous route. The paper explains that Descartes accomplishes this by first raising all of the epistemological doubts of skeptics - and then vindicating his faith in reason by advancing an argument for trusting certain aspects of our rationality. In the process, as far as he is concerned, he manages to: ... "tear down everything and begin anew from the foundations [in order to] ... establish ... firm and lasting knowledge". The paper then goes on to argue that contrary to establishing his faith in reason, to a very large extent, the new foundation that Descartes erects, and pins his firm knowledge on, is his certainty of the existence of God.
Abstract This paper provides a general biography of ReneDescartes, as well as a basic summary of his philosophical tenets. The paper also discusses Descartes' accomplishments in the field of mathematics as well as philosophy.
From the Paper "Often considered the father of modern philosophy, Renee Descartes is one of the most influential ground-breaking thinkers in the history of human thought. Indeed his accomplishments go beyond the field of philosophy as he was an elite mathematician who is credited with inventing analytic geometry. However it is Descartes' work in laying the philosophic foundation for modern scientific thought that is his greatest achievement. Descartes' philosophy was deeply rooted in rationalism because he began his inquiry by questioning the very validity of the knowledge that man believes he possesses."
Tags:descartes, biography, skepticism, philosophy, God, existence, cogito ergo
Abstract This paper explains that ReneDescartes, a 17th century Renaissance philosopher and scientist, was considered a rationalist. The author points out that he derived scientific methods using specific rules about the study of knowledge instead of trusting human senses as being capable of determining truth alone. The paper contends that, although Descartes is credited as being the father of psychology among many other sciences, he would not have viewed psychology as a true science because of its reliance on human senses for observation and its attempts to study the mind, an object that is not tangible according to Descartes.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Descartes History
Descartes' Beliefs
Descartes' Education
Descartes' View on Science and Psychology
Descartes' Methods of Science
Descartes and Psychology
Psychology is not a Science for Descartes
From the Paper "It is easy to see how Descartes methods apply well to sciences such as Physics or Chemistry, but it is much more difficult to apply such methods to the science of Psychology. Descartes believed in the separation of the mind from the body, and he believed that the possession of a mind is what set humans apart from all other animals. It is his work on the mind and the central nervous system that usually gives him credit as being the father of Psychology, but Psychology is the study of the mind and of behaviour, and Descartes would not agree with the former."
Tags: mind, scientific methods, jesuits steps, central nervous system
Abstract In attempting to connect philosophy and theology, ReneDescartes made certain novel assumptions that, at the outset, would appear to contradict themselves. He believed that only the physical world could be proved according to mathematical evidence, yet, stated that the very existence or presence of an idea of a perfect God in the mind already suggests His reality and existence. The paper discusses Descartes's views that, in the act of perceiving reality, the human soul goes through activities, such as understanding, conceiving, doubting, affirming, denying, willing, refusing, imagining, feeling, and desiring. These activities share the common quality of deliberate thought or perception. The paper explains Descartes's idea that thought, then, is the essential attribute of the soul.
Paper Outline
Introduction
Rationale for the Choice of the Philosophy
Historical Background
Strong Points
Weak Points
Applicability of Descartes's Philosophy
Summary
Quotes
Bibliography
From the Paper "It is however, disastrous to accept Descartes? concept of passions as animal spirits circulated by the blood and originating from our pineal gland. If they were inherently physiological, then we need not worry about being responsible for our deliberate acts. There will cease to be any difference between what is right and what is wrong. Civilization will collapse and life itself will vanish from the planet. We should not blame the bleakness or dignity of human existence to the pineal gland."
Abstract This paper examines the 17th-century French philosopher ReneDescartes' work, "Meditations," in which he addresses the question of the existence of God. The writer shows that "Meditations" is a skeptical hypothesis on certain inalienable truths. Descartes strives to prove God's existence and show that God is not a deceiver, and he ultimately concludes with the existence of a non-deceiving God as a perfect and Supreme Being.The writer explains that the only way to support all of Descartes' theories of knowledge was to affirm the existence of an all-loving God; almost everything Descartes claims is dependent on God's existence and his nature as a non-deceiver.
From the Paper "In the third Meditation, Descartes attempts to prove the existence of God, defined as a being of perfection. God's existence explains causality; as the world exhibits systematic causal sequences, something had to start it all. Descartes' hypothesis begins with the idea of a God who is eternal, infinite, omniscient, omnipotent, and perfect. Descartes believes that these qualities could not have originated from inside him, so God must have given him these ideas. Descartes' argument does not make sense; just because he thinks that God possesses these qualities does not mean that God must possess these qualities. If God causes everything, then what causes God Himself? Is He exempt from this rule? One of the main perfections that Descartes attributes to God is 'self-existence.'"
Abstract This paper looks at ReneeDescartes' approach to the question, is mind the same thing as body and if yes, how and if no, why not? It summarizes the arguments Descartes presented in support of his views and offers opposing opinions to each of Descartes' arguments.
From the Paper "The discussion over the relationship between mind and body that has been intriguing philosophers for a long time is divided into two broad categories: dualism and monism. According to dualism mind and body are two separate substances. There are several types of dualist views including parallelism, epiphenomenalism, occassionalism and interactionism. John Locke and Rene Descartes are among those who laid the foundation of this idea. Whereas Locke and Descartes believed in Dualism, there were other famous philosophers and thinkers who supported monism. Monism refers to the theory that mind and body are inseparable and thus one is influenced by the other."
Abstract This paper analyzes the greater certainty of mind over the physical external world in the philosophy of ReneDescartes. 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. "
Abstract This paper argue that Descartes' argument of the mind having ascendancy over the body is correct from a scientific point of view. The author points out that the mind is made up of electrical impulses and energy is essentially infinite. The paper agrees with Descartes ultimate conclusion although some of Descartes methods for arriving at that conclusion are not considered valid.
From the Paper "In this essay, I argue that Descartes' argument of the mind having ascendancy over the body is correct. Speaking strictly from a scientific point of view, of course, Descartes is correct. The body is flesh, and therefore finite. The mind, however, is made up of electrical impulses and energy is essentially infinite. Therefore, long after the body has gone the impulses that made up the mind will have converted into another form of energy and still exist in our world's system."
Abstract This paper presents an examination of the foundation of life as developed by two famous philosophers. John Locke and ReneeDescartes both believed they had come up with an understandable and scientific philosophy about the foundation of life. The writer of this paper compares and contrasts those beliefs.
From the Paper "Throughout history, mankind has tried to develop a philosophy that will explain the existence of life. There have been abstract ideas, concrete ideas, spiritual ideas and others to try and explain the foundation of life in a way that can be understood in future generations. Two of the most scientifically respected men in history worked to develop theories about the foundation of life that could be understood in a scientific manner. John Locke and Renee Descartes are well known for their theories about life. The theories have several similarities as well as several differences. The men made history with their theories about the foundations of life, though Descartes theory seems to be the easiest to understand."
Abstract This paper explains the basic differences between St. Bonaventure's and ReneeDescartes's concept of God, describes what may have influenced their thinking and why, and highlights the main points of their beliefs about God.
From the Paper "Descartes derived almost polar opposite conclusions based on his observation of the world. Of course, Descartes was living in a much more rational age than Bonaventure. He was, timewise, more removed from both the Greeks and the early Christians, and took logic for granted, as well as embracing mathematics, which had been shown to be very reliable. In fact, in Descartes? time, mathematics was the only discipline capable of producing visibly constant results. So it isn?t surprising that he would base a philosophy on mathematical/scientific concepts."
Abstract This paper describes ReneDescartes' use of Aquinas's five ways of knowing that God exists, identifying God's perfection as the major thrust of Descartes' ontological argument in defense of God's existence.
From the Paper "Rene Descartes in the Third Meditation draws upon arguments advanced earlier by St Thomas Aquinas to demonstrate that God exists. Having declared himself to be a thing that thinks that is to say that doubts .."
Tags:Descartes, Thomas Aquinas, God, First Prime Mover
Abstract This paper provides an overview of Descartes's life and works. It focuses on an analysis of the "Discourse on Method" and the "I think, therefore I am" statement.
Outline
Descartes's Background
Descartes's Philosophical System
Descartes's Discourse on Method
Descartes's Method Regarding Knowledge
Descartes's Influence on Philosophy
Descartes's Influence on Enlightenment
Works Consulted
From the Paper "Rene Descartes is widely recognized as the father of modern philosophy. Also known as Renatus Cartesius (a latinization of his name), Descartes was a 17th century French scientist, mathematician and philosopher. His importance in the history of philosophy is so great because he was among the first to oppose scholastic Aristotleianism, which had influenced European philosophy and culture during a period of almost a thousand years. A French gentleman who signed himself "Lord of Perron" and who lived twenty years of his life (the most productive ones) in the tolerable and hospitable Dutch republic, Descartes remains a crucial figure in the history of philosophy."
Tags: discourse, think, therefore, i, am, enlightenment, knowledge, method
Abstract In this article the writer looks at the theory proposed by ReneDescartes regarding the mind-body interaction which argued that the mind is a separate and distinct substance from the body. The writer discusses that a thought experiment led Descartes to believe that not only are the mind and body separate entities, but each are also independent and could exist without the other. Descartes uses a method of doubt in order to determine that the mind must be separate and independent from the body. Descartes can doubt that the world he sees before him exists, and that material objects which come into his perception could be imposed on his senses. The writer also discusses that Descartes rightly demonstrates through examples such as hallucinations, dreams, and after-images, that sensory perception cannot provide a positive case for the existence of corporeal beings in the external world.
From the Paper "Gottlob Frege further argues against the mind-body distinction, pointing out that Descartes could be committing the fallacy of equivocation. Frege posits that Descartes is using one word in a premise which does not mean the same thing in the conclusion. When following a psychological verb, words refer to concepts rather than an actual thing. What must be asked is what Descartes is referring to when he makes the claim that he can doubt the existence of his brain. According to Frege, any time a word follows a psychological verb, like doubt, believe, or conceive, the word no longer refers to the actual object or subject at hand, but rather the concept."
Abstract This paper analyzes ReneDescartes' works, Meditations I, II and III, illustrating his arguments proving the existence of God. The paper outlines Descartes' use of a circular argument, using the existence of God as a basis for proving that his clear and distinct ideas result from the existence and nature of God as non-treacherous. The paper discusses Descartes' arguments, presenting their failure in proving God's existence.
From the Paper "In Meditations III, Rene Descartes attempts to prove in the existence of God. In essence, Descartes argues that God exists because his mind can conceive of God. There are numerous reasons that Descartes? proof for the existence of God fails. First, Descartes uses a circular argument, using the existence of God as a basis for proving that his clear and distinct ideas result from the existence and nature of God as non-treacherous. In addition, Descartes never considers that a truly benign and good God could conceivably mislead humans if there were some aspect of the world too horrific for them to know."
Abstract The paper discusses ReneDescartes's three skeptical doubts and the importance of skepticism in his philosophy. The paper explains that the exercise of skepticism is the backbone of Descartes's philosophical approach and is the defining element of his meditations, insofar as they revolve around the identification and examination of three doubts: the doubt in his own existence, the reality of God, and the existence of the outside world. The importance and implications of these doubts are discussed in the paper in the hope of illustrating that, if we want to arrive at certain knowledge and objective truth, we should begin, as Descartes did, by doubting.
From the Paper "Descartes' third doubt is a natural extension of the first two and particularly interesting insofar as its conclusion is predetermined by the ones arrived at earlier. Quite simply stated, we know that we exist because we are thinking beings and ultimately, conclude that God exists because we have exercised our thinking abilities. However, the outside world is primarily communicated to us as an entity through multiple perceptions and perceptions, in themselves, cannot be accepted as certitudes insofar as they may be misled by the Evil Demon. Nevertheless, the proof for the existence of the external may ultimately emerge from our knowledge of it. Knowledge, insofar as it had earlier been defined by Descartes as indubitable and a product of good God, cannot, therefore be deceiving. Hence, the outside world exists."
