Descartes

• What is Descartes' mathematical method, and how does it relate to his approach to certainty?

  • Descartes' mathematical method is a prototype for correct thinking, involving analysis, where problems are solved by breaking them down into basic principles.
  • Rationalism is central to his philosophy, and he believed certainty about reality could be attained by reason.
  • His method involves doubting everything to find indubitable truths, providing a foundation for rationality.
• How does Descartes approach doubt, and what is his first certainty?

  • Descartes uses doubt as a methodical and universal tool to question authority claims, senses, and thought itself (including the concept of malin génie).
  • His first certainty is "je pense donc je suis" (I think, therefore I am), demonstrating that the act of doubting leads to thinking, confirming his existence.
• What are the key properties of Descartes' certainties?

  • Descartes identified several properties of certainties:
  • Clear and distinct.
  • Innate.
  • From outside.
  • Correct.These properties form the foundation of his rationalist philosophy.
• What is Descartes' second certainty, and how does it relate to God?

  • Descartes' second certainty is the idea of infinitude, which leads to the existence of God.
  • This concept can be understood in two ways: a posteriori, as God planting the idea in his mind, and a priori, as God necessarily existing.
  • This certainty helps establish a connection between human thought and a higher power.
• How does Descartes establish the existence of the external world?

  • Descartes' third certainty is the existence of the external world, derived through representations and sensory data.
  • He uses the concept of extension to understand the dimensions of objects and concludes that these representations come from outside sources, implying a third substance (the external world).
• What is Descartes' mediate realism, and what are the pillars of the bridge connecting thought and the external world?

  • Mediate realism is Descartes' idea that the real existence of things outside the mind is mediated through representations.
  • The bridge connecting thought and the external world is built on three pillars: causality, sensory representations, and God.
  • These pillars provide a rational basis for understanding the relationship between internal thought and external reality.