Descartes SummaryPHIL 150: Philosophical Communication

What is Descartes talking about?

◻Descartes addresses the nature of:⬜self⬜God⬜physical reality

◻He also discusses the nature of the mind vs. physical things.

◻These are fundamental issues, and formulating valid, sound answers about them is not easy.

◻Descartes concludes that the doubting, thinking self exists, and that physical reality, which is a source of ideas to the mind, also exists, while supporting a dualistic view.

Claim 1: Cogito ergo sum

◻In doubting my existence, I doubt, reason, and think in general. ◻Something must be doing these things.◻This “something” is “I”.◻Therefore, I exist, even if everything else is a delusion from an evil demon -- the mind is more certain and knowable than the physical.

Claim 2: The Nature of God

◻Demonic deception?◻God exists.◻God is perfect and omnipotent, so God cannot deceive.◻A trustworthy God provides us with clear perceptions (such as Claim 1).◻We can trust these clear perceptions.

Claim 3: Physical reality exists

◻Dubiousness of physical reality: our senses can be fooled.

◻e.g., optical illusions -- images appear to move but are still, hallucinations, etc.◻Nevertheless, physical reality exists:◻We have perceptions that are involuntary.◻e.g., feeling too hot in a room◻These do not come from ourselves.◻dualism: physical vs. mental◻God is not deceptive. -> Sensory perceptions

are from other physical things.

Evaluation/Commentary

◻Descartes’ argument relies too heavily on contemporary assumptions.

◻God exists and is perfect.◻What does perfect mean?◻“Clear and distinct” perceptions?◻Who draws the line?◻Does this say more about our capacities than

about reality?