Intro To Philosophy
1. What was the one thing that Descartes could not doubt? And why is Descartes' Epistemological Skepticism a good thing?
René Descartes was a profound man of his time. He is known worldwide for his originality and his ripe ideas in the area of philosophy and his works are still read by many today. Descartes begins his adventure into his thoughts by searching for the un-doubtable. He is searching for a truth that in no way, shape, or form can be doubted and for absolute knowledge. However, this leaves Descartes with very little to find absolute knowledge or believe in. Descartes is forced to wipe a clean slate of all of his beliefs, thoughts, and opinions and see which are undoubtedly true. He comes to find that he can have doubt for almost everything he has known except for two items- he cannot doubt that he doubts, and he cannot doubt he (or his mind) exists. This is where his very popular phrase, "I think, therefore I am" came into existence.
Descartes was a skeptic. His skepticism was a good thing though because without being skeptical, it would not have allowed him to form such complex ideas and thoughts about absolute knowledge that he later wrote about in his Meditations.
2. For Berkeley, what is the meaning of Esse es percipi'?
Esse es Percipi translated from Latin means "to be is to be perceived". According to George Berkeley, this is the most fundamental principle of idealistic philosophy. Berkeley argued that there is nothing besides these perceptions, or ideas. Berkeley notes that he can see, feel, touch, taste, and smell which give him a decent suspicion that items, odors, feelings, light and much more , do in fact may exist but, only in the mind. He says it is "nonsense to suppose that there are things outside the mind".
3. Identify the three beliefs attacked by David Hume. And define empiricism.
Some philosophers have stated that Hume's skepticism is the last word...
Please login to view the full essay...