How does Descartes argue for his own existence?
Descartes realizes that he is a being that thinks, doubts, desires and questions countless things. However, the notion that Descartes has of a Supreme Being, or God, is the clearest and most distinct when compared to his other philosophies. Descartes realizes that since he is a being that thinks, there must be a supreme being more perfect than him to help him realize his imperfections. For instance, how could he know what his shortcomings are supposed to be, without a perfect more supreme being to compare himself to…? Also, how can he exist without a more supreme being to create him…? These ideas led to the conclusion that a God does in fact exist. Yes, at times Descartes ponders his very own existence, however, he realizes that he is a being that thinks, stating, “I think, therefore I am, I am, therefore I exist”. He concludes that because he doubts, realizes his imperfections, and is an objective thinker, that he is a finite being. This leads to his confrontation on the existence of a God. Descartes states and believes that something cannot develop and evolve from nothing. He associates this with ideas.
What is his theory of knowledge, and what makes it different from a belief?
Descartes was a rationalist. He said that he believed, and that he had to doubt everything known to him to really understand knowledge… When Descartes started his thoughts, during the rise of science, he decided to set up a new system of knowledge to replace the knowledge of the church. (Kind of like Galileo, with the religion vs. science) This is where Descartes introduced his 'Method of Doubt'. In his method, he couldn't question every single object, so he concentrated on three main things:
1. The Senses (can be deceiving, you think you see something when it's not there, ex. Optical Illusions)
2. Physical Bodies
3. Math’s and The Sciences
What are two most important questions philosophies have to demonstrate? What are the two kinds of beliefs in which Descartes distinguishes? What does Descartes say about his proofs?
Descartes realizes that he is a being that thinks, doubts, desires and questions countless things. However, the notion that Descartes has of a Supreme Being, or God, is the clearest and most distinct when compared to his other philosophies. Descartes realizes that since he is a being that thinks, there must be a supreme being more perfect than him to help him realize his imperfections. For instance, how could he know what his shortcomings are supposed to be, without a perfect more supreme being to compare himself to…? Also, how can he exist without a more supreme being to create him…? These ideas led to the conclusion that a God does in fact exist. Yes, at times Descartes ponders his very own existence, however, he realizes that he is a being that thinks, stating, “I think, therefore I am, I am, therefore I exist”. He concludes that because he doubts, realizes his imperfections, and is an objective thinker, that he is a finite being. This leads to his confrontation on the existence of a God. Descartes states and believes that something cannot develop and evolve from nothing. He associates this with ideas.
What is his theory of knowledge, and what makes it different from a belief?
Descartes was a rationalist. He said that he believed, and that he had to doubt everything known to him to really understand knowledge… When Descartes started his thoughts, during the rise of science, he decided to set up a new system of knowledge to replace the knowledge of the church. (Kind of like Galileo, with the religion vs. science) This is where Descartes introduced his 'Method of Doubt'. In his method, he couldn't question every single object, so he concentrated on three main things:
1. The Senses (can be deceiving, you think you see something when it's not there, ex. Optical Illusions)
2. Physical Bodies
3. Math’s and The Sciences
What are two most important questions philosophies have to demonstrate? What are the two kinds of beliefs in which Descartes distinguishes? What does Descartes say about his proofs?
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