Lecture on René Descartes and Modern Philosophy

These vocabulary flashcards are designed to help review key terms and concepts related to René Descartes and modern philosophy.

Cogito, ergo sum

A Latin phrase meaning 'I think, therefore I am', stating that the act of thinking is proof of one's existence.

Method of Doubt

A systematic process introduced by Descartes to establish a foundation of certain knowledge by doubting all beliefs that can be doubted.

Substance Dualism

The philosophical belief that the mind and body are two distinct entities that interact with each other.

Axioms

Fundamental principles or statements that are assumed to be self-evident and serve as a basis for further reasoning.

Inductive Reasoning

A reasoning process that involves forming generalizations based on specific observations.

Rational Intuition

A direct, non-inferential awareness of certain truths, often related to mathematical or logical propositions.

Empiricism

The theory that knowledge comes primarily from sensory experience.

Rationalism

Philosophical belief that reason and knowledge are the primary sources of knowledge, as opposed to sensory experience.

Representational Theory of Perception

The idea that perceptions do not directly correlate to the world but represent it, suggesting the possibility of misinterpretation.

Determinism

The philosophical doctrine that all events, including moral choices, are determined completely by previously existing causes.

Solipsism

The philosophical idea that only one's own mind is sure to exist, questioning the existence of the external world.

Evil Genius Doubt

A skeptical hypothesis proposed by Descartes suggesting the existence of a powerful being capable of deceiving us about the nature of reality.

Clear and Distinct Ideas

Concepts that are perceived with clarity and are free from doubt, considered by Descartes as the foundation for knowledge.

Internal Contradiction

A situation in which a person holds conflicting beliefs or statements that cannot both be true.

Scientific Method

A systematic approach to inquiry that includes observation, experimentation, and the formulation of laws based on inductive reasoning.

Philosophical Inquiry

A critical examination of fundamental questions concerning existence, knowledge, values, reason, and reality.

What were Descartes' three main philosophical questions?

Questions about what we can know for certain, the existence of God, and the distinction between mind and body.

Why did religious leaders view science as a threat during Descartes' era?

Scientific advancements challenged traditional religious doctrines and interpretations of the world, leading to fear of eroding faith.

What philosophical questions emerged in the modern period?

Questions concerning the nature of knowledge, the existence of a real world separate from our perceptions, and the mind-body problem.

What are the two main components of the scientific method?

Observation and experimentation using inductive reasoning to formulate laws.

How do empiricists acquire knowledge about the world?

Primarily through sensory experience and observation.

How do rationalists, like Descartes, understand reality?

Through reason and innate ideas rather than sensory experience.

What constitutes a valid deductive argument?

An argument where if the premises are true, the conclusion must necessarily be true. The conclusion follows logically from the premises.

Outline Descartes' methods of doubt.

Descartes' methods include the Dream Doubt (questioning if sensory experiences are real or merely a dream) and the Evil Genius Doubt (a hypothesis of an all-powerful deceiver making us believe falsehoods).

Why did Descartes distrust philosophical beliefs?

He found that philosophical arguments often led to dispute and uncertainty, lacking the foundational certainty he sought.

Why did Descartes doubt scientific beliefs?

Even seemingly certain scientific principles are derived from sensory experience, which he found to be unreliable and open to doubt (e.g., the Dream Doubt).

Why is memory an unreliable source of knowledge for Descartes?

Memory can be faulty, distorted, or incomplete, making it impossible to be absolutely certain of past events or remembered facts.

Why did Descartes doubt his sensory perceptions?

Our senses can deceive us (e.g., optical illusions), and it's difficult to distinguish waking reality from dreams, making all sensory input potentially unreliable.

For Descartes, why is the self identified with the mind, not the body?

The mind (thinking substance) can be doubted separately from the body (extended substance). He could conceive of himself existing without a body, but not without a mind.

Critique Descartes' ontological argument for God's existence.

Descartes' argument that the idea of perfection implies existence is flawed. The idea of a perfect being (like a multicolored unicorn) in one's mind does not necessitate its existence in reality. Existence is not a property that can be added to an idea to make it more perfect.

How does Descartes justify the existence of the external world?

He argues that a non-deceiving God would not allow us to consistently believe in an external world if it didn't exist, as this would make God a deceiver.

How does Descartes account for inaccurate beliefs?

Inaccuracy arises when our will assents to ideas that are not clear and distinct, or when our senses provide information that is not fully understood by reason.

Identify the internal contradiction in Descartes' philosophy regarding doubt and God.

Descartes' rigorous doubt, including the Evil Genius, seems to contradict his subsequent acceptance of the idea of God's perfection and existence as indubitable, without subjecting them to the same extreme skepticism. An internal contradiction arises when one claims to believe in the scientific method (requiring empirical evidence and replicable experiences) while simultaneously holding beliefs in non-empirical entities like God that are not subject to such scrutiny.

What are the implications of God's non-deceiving nature extending only to rational knowledge for sensory experience?

It implies that while God guarantees the truth of clear and distinct rational ideas, our sensory experiences can still be misleading or inaccurate, as they are not inherently guaranteed by divine perfection.

Why does Descartes assert knowledge of the world comes from reason, not senses?

Senses are fallible and can deceive us; true knowledge of the world's essential properties (like extension and motion) comes from clear and distinct ideas perceived by the intellect.

What challenges does substance dualism face?

Difficulties explaining how two fundamentally different substances (mind and body) can interact with each other, and where this interaction occurs.