Meditation 2
- Created by: chloemac___
- Created on: 15-01-18 20:12
View mindmap
- Descartes' Meditation 2
- The Cogito
- At this point, it occurs to Descartes' that there is something that the demon can't do. He cannot deceive him into thinking that he exists, if he does not. In order to be deceived, he has to exist.
- So even if the Evil Demon does exist, and is omnipotent, there is a limit in his powers. He can't deceive a non-existent being (he couldn't for example, deceive a fictional character such as Harry Potter or Jon Snow into believing that he existed.) It is a necessary condition for being deceived that you exist in the first place.
- To say that it is a necessary condition for being deceived that you exist is to say that unless you exist, you simply cannot be deceived.
- Note how we can also say that if you are a mother, then you must be a woman (I cannot be a mother, but fail to be a woman). Philosophers put this point by saying that it is a sufficient condition for your being a woman that you be a mother. So we can say that it is a sufficient condition for my being deceived that I exist.
- Mental states that Descartes has been in: detecting, doubting, wishing, believing, examining, imagining.
- If you do any of these things - ie undertake mental processes - you must exist in order to do this.
- Mental states that Descartes has been in: detecting, doubting, wishing, believing, examining, imagining.
- Note how we can also say that if you are a mother, then you must be a woman (I cannot be a mother, but fail to be a woman). Philosophers put this point by saying that it is a sufficient condition for your being a woman that you be a mother. So we can say that it is a sufficient condition for my being deceived that I exist.
- To say that it is a necessary condition for being deceived that you exist is to say that unless you exist, you simply cannot be deceived.
- So even if the Evil Demon does exist, and is omnipotent, there is a limit in his powers. He can't deceive a non-existent being (he couldn't for example, deceive a fictional character such as Harry Potter or Jon Snow into believing that he existed.) It is a necessary condition for being deceived that you exist in the first place.
- The phrase "I think, therefore I am" is mayhaps the most famous phrase in Philosophy. The Latin for this phrase is "Cogito ergo sum". What Descartes' knows with absolute certainty is "I am, I exist". In order to be able to even think or say this phrase, you must be able to exist.
- At this point, it occurs to Descartes' that there is something that the demon can't do. He cannot deceive him into thinking that he exists, if he does not. In order to be deceived, he has to exist.
- An analysis and evaluation of The Cogito:
- Analysis:
- It is a "self-authenticating" statement (evident and justifying)
- By even contemplating or thinking on the matter we confirm its truth
- It is a "self-authenticating" statement (evident and justifying)
- Evaluation
- The cogito is striking and at first glance appealing - I cannot doubt that I am thinking because doubting is a form of thinking
- Intuitive
- However there is a problem of how we should interpret or understand the certainty of the cogito
- It is a logical argument or is it merely and intuition
- Some interpretations seem to depend on the validity of either experiential or rational arguments - both of which Descartes has already dismissed
- Assumption is being made that knowledge is structured
- Is it a dead end? The only way we can progress from the cogito is to employ the "clear and distinct rule" to identify other intuitively certain beliefs.
- However, the clear and distinct rule arguably involves Descartes in the "Cartesian Circle" of justifications.
- Does the cogito commit us to dualism? Dualism is controversial
- A non-foundationalist account of knowledge wouldn't require such a bedrock of truth
- Does the cogito commit us to dualism? Dualism is controversial
- However, the clear and distinct rule arguably involves Descartes in the "Cartesian Circle" of justifications.
- Is it a dead end? The only way we can progress from the cogito is to employ the "clear and distinct rule" to identify other intuitively certain beliefs.
- Assumption is being made that knowledge is structured
- Some interpretations seem to depend on the validity of either experiential or rational arguments - both of which Descartes has already dismissed
- It is a logical argument or is it merely and intuition
- However there is a problem of how we should interpret or understand the certainty of the cogito
- Intuitive
- The cogito is striking and at first glance appealing - I cannot doubt that I am thinking because doubting is a form of thinking
- Analysis:
- The Cogito
Comments
No comments have yet been made