Descartes Exam

Adventitious Ideas

Ideas that seem to come from the external world.

Apodictic

Necessary

Clear and Distinct Ideas

Ideas that can be known with absolute certainty, Descartes uses this in Med 3 to prove the Cogito.

Cogito

The thinking thing, “I think, therefore I am”

Deus Deceptor

It may be the case that we are systematically deceived by some all-powerful evil genius, abstract/conceptual truths also can be doubted (Med 3).

Dualism

The view that there are two fundamentally distinct substances in the world: extended things and thinking things.

Extended things

Things existing in space; material objects.

Fabricated ideas

Ideas that we author, ex. mermaid, unicorns.

God

An infinite substance, the idea which is innate.

Hyperbolic doubt

Where one calls into question whatever is possible to doubt (Meds 1/2)

Innate ideas

Ideas that are pre-existent in the mind, knowable through reason.

Interchangeability of Awake and Dreaming states

Doctrine that it is impossible to determine in any given instance whether or not one is awake or asleep. Our immediate bodily existence is not known with certainty (Med 1).

Methodological Skepticism

Method involving doubting in a systematic fashion the basic principles upon which we base our beliefs concerning the world (hyperbolic doubt)(Med1).

Ontology

Rational discourse about being and what it is (Med 5).

Monism

The view that there is only one fundamental substance in the Universe.

Primary qualities

Those properties of an object that are observer independent, such as possession of geometrical shape, numerical value, and extension. These qualities are meant to capture the essence of an object.

Secondary Qualities

Those properties of an object that are observer-dependent, such as color, sound, taste, and touch.

Thinking Thing

A non-existent substance that is the source of thought (see cogito)

Veil of Perception

the idea that we can only understand the world through the ideas/concepts that we have, and hence that we must see the world inevitably through the veil of our own perception.

What is the main goal of Descartes Meditation 1?

To begin philosophy anew by doubting everything that can possibly be doubted.

What method does Descartes use to challenge the foundations of knowledge?

Hyperbolic doubt— systematic skepticism of all beliefs.

Why does Descartes believe the senses are unreliable?

Because they have deceived us before, such as in optical illusions and misperceptions.

What is the dream argument?

It’s the idea that we can’t reliably distinguish waking from dreaming, so sensory experience is uncertain.

What is the Deus Deceptor Hypothesis?

A thought experiment proposing an evil genius who could deceive us even about abstract truths like math.

What does Descartes mean by the “veil of perception?”

That we only understand the world through our ideas and concepts, not directly.

What is the first indubitable truth Descartes discovers?

Cogito Ergo Sum — I think, therefore I am.

Why is the Cogito immune to doubt?

Because even doubting proves the existence of a thinking being.

How does Descartes define himself after the Cogito?

As a thinking thing— a non-extended substance (res cogitans)

What does the wax example demonstrate?

That perception is based on intellect, not the senses — we grasp essence through reason.

What is the distinction between res cogitans and res extensa?

Res cogitans is the thinking, non-extended mind; res extensa is the extended, non-thinking body.

What types of mental content does Descartes identify?

Ideas, volitions, affects, and judgements.

Why does Descartes reject the idea that the concept of God is fabricated or sensory?

Because the idea of God is too perfect to originate from a finite or sensory source.

What are the two casual principles Descartes uses?

A cause must have at least as much reality as its effect; something cannot come from nothing.

What is the casual argument for God’s existence?

The idea of god has an infinite objective reality, which must come from something with infinite formal reality — therefore, God exists.

How does Descartes escape the veil of perception?

By proving God exists and is not a deceiver, allowing trust in clear and distinct ideas.

If God is perfect, why do humans make mistakes?

Because our will exceeds our intellect, we judge beyond what we clearly and distinctly perceive.

What is the relationship between will and intellect in Descartes view?

Will is infinite, intellect is limited. Error occurs when will outruns intellect.

Who is to blame for human error, according to Descartes?

Humans, not God, because we misuse our free will.

What role does God play in our ability to judge?

God gave us the tools to judge correctly; errors come from poor judgement, not divine deception.

What is the ontological argument for God’s existence?

God is the most perfect being, if he lacked existence he wouldn’t be perfect, therefore God must exist.

What does Descartes mean by “existence as a predicate?”

That existence is a necessary attribute of a perfect being.

How does Descartes build on Anselm’s argument?

He uses a conceptual analysis of perfection to show that existence must be a part of God’s nature.

What does perfection mean in Descartes’ argument?

Lacking nothing appropriate to a thing’s nature — including existence.

What is Descartes’ main claim in Med 6?

That mind and body are two distinct substances capable of existing independently.

What is the conceivability argument for dualism?

If we can conceive of mind and body existing separately, then it’s possible they are distinct.

What is the conceivability argument for dualism?

If we can conceive of mind and body existing separately, then it’s possible they are distinct. h

What are the properties of mind and body according to Descartes?

Mind = thinking, non extended; Body = extended, non-thinking.

What role does God play in the possibility of dualism?

God could make mind and body exist independently, confirming their distinctness.

What does Descartes conclude about sciences based on clear and distinct ideas?

That they can be trusted to describe the world accurately.

Descartes believes that sensory illusions are rare and therefore trustworthy.

False — he argues that because the senses have deceived us even once, they cannot be trusted as a foundation of knowledge.

The dream argument shows that we can never be certain we are awake.

True — Descartes claims that waking and dreaming states are indistinguishable, so we can’t be sure of our bodily existence at any moment.

Descartes uses hyperbolic doubt to permanently reject all false knowledge. 

False — Hyperbolic doubt is temporary tool to clear away unreliable beliefs and find something indubitable. 

The Deus Deceptor hypothesis is used to doubt even abstract truths like mathematics.

True — Descartes imagines a powerful deceiver who could manipulate even conceptual truths like 2+3=5

“I think, therefore I am” proves the existence of the body.

False — it proves the existence of the thinking self, not the body. the body remains in doubt.

Descartes concludes that perfection is based on intellect, not the senses.

True — the wax example shows that reason allows us to grasp the essence of things, not sensory input.

The wax example demonstrates that sensory change alters the identity of an object.

False — despite changes in sensory properties, we still recognize the wax as wax through intellect.

Res Cogitans refers to a thinking, non-extended substance.

True — this is Descartes definition of the mind: a substance that thinks but does not occupy space.

Only judgements can be true or false; ideas themselves are just representations.

True — Descartes distinguishes between mental content types and says truth/falsify applies only to judgements.

Descartes believes the idea of God could have originated from his senses.

False — He rejects adventitious origins and concludes the idea must be innate.

The principle of sufficient reason states that a cause must have at least a much reality as its effect.

True — This casual principle is central to Descartes’ argument for God’s existence.

Descartes concludes that the idea of God is innate and caused by a finite being.

False — He argues that only something with infinite formal reality (i.e., God) could cause the idea of God.

Descartes believes God is responsible for human error.

False — He insists that error arises from human misuse of free will, not divine deception.

Will is broader than intellect, and this mismatch causes error.

True — Our will extends beyond what we clearly and distinctly perceive, leading to mistakes.

Clear and distinct ideas are trustworthy because God is not a deceiver.

True — Descartes argues that a perfect God would not deceive us, so these ideas can be trusted.

Descartes denies that humans have free will.

False — He affirms that humans have free will, but warns that it must be used carefully to avoid error.

Descartes argues that existence is necessary attribute of a perfect being.

True — He claims that if God lacked existence, He wouldn’t be perfect, so he must exist.

The ontological argument relies on sensory evidence of God.

False — it’s based on conceptual analysis, not sensory input.

Perfection means lacking nothing appropriate to a thing’s nature.

True — this definition supports the claim that existence must be part of God’s nature.

Descartes believes the idea of God is fabricated by the imagination.

False — He rejects fabricated origins and concludes the idea is innate.

Descartes argues that mind and body are the same kind of substance.

False — He claims they are fundamentally distinct: mind is thinking and non extended; body is extended and non thinking.

Conceivability is used to argue that mind and body can exist independently.

True — If we can conceive of them separately, Descartes says it’s possible they are distinct.

God could make mind and body exist independently.

True — Descartes says their separation is possible if God wills it.

Sciences based on clear and distinct ideas can be trusted to describe the world.

True — By the end of the Meditations, Descartes affirms that such sciences are reliable.