Tuesday, May 19, 2020

My First Three Meditations - Original Ideas - 1361 Words

Greetings! I am writing in response to your request of me to review your first three Meditations. Truly, I have never seen such original ideas. You never cease to amaze me with your extraordinary talent in philosophical thinking. In this letter I am going to address some claims which I feel are astounding and others which I feel may be inconsistent. However, I will warn you before you progress that I do not believe that there will ever be a flawless idea, despite the fact that I do feel some of your ideas are very well written. One argument which truly catches my attention is the one where you try to prove that a good god exists. You attempt to prove this by using the idea of different levels of reality. In your text, you state that,†¦show more content†¦With this reasoning in mind, you also propose that an effect cannot have more reality than its cause and thus should have just as much reality as its cause. You go on to state that, â€Å"†¦the idea that enables me to understand a supreme deity, eternal, finite, omniscient, omnipotent, and creator of all things other than himself, clearly has more objective reality within it than do those ideas through which finite objects are displayed† (Descartes 28, Margin 40). Therefore, the idea of God, which is infinite cannot be one composed by a mere human who is finite. Due to our levels of experience and our lack of exposure to anything that is infinite, it is impossible for us to develop the idea from anywhere that something or someone can be immortal. Thus, you come to the conclusion that only God could have created the idea of God, being that he or she is of the same level of reality. So, you believe that the idea of God is innate in us. I truly believe that this is a very compelling argument that is well reasoned. I admire the originality of this idea and I believe you did exceedingly well on using your reasoning of levels of objective reality to come to the conclusion that there is a God who is good. However, I also believe that any argument no matter how well argued may be doubted. I recall that you noted, â€Å"What will be true? Perhaps, just the single fact that nothing is certain† (Descartes 17, Margin 24). So, with that thought in mind, I would like to propose someShow MoreRelatedIn Philosophy, There Are Going To Be Some Agreements And1393 Words   |  6 PagesMonism is the view that attributes oneness; cannot be separated. Spinoza’s Response Hello Descartes, I hope all is well. I just finished reading The Meditations on First Philosophy for the third time, and I really enjoyed it. I must admit I am quite impressed with your work. However, there are some issues that I would like to address. In the Meditations, you state, â€Å"I am only a thing that thinks.† What exactly does this means? It sounds as if you are only a mind that exist and have no physical bodyRead MoreAn Analysis of Descartes’ First Meditation Essay example1448 Words   |  6 Pages(Phil 100) Prof. Michael Rosenthal November 13th, 2012 An Analysis of Descartes’ First Meditation In Descartes’ First Meditation, Descartes’ overall intention is to present the idea that our perceptions and sensations are flawed and should not be trusted entirely. His purpose is to create the greatest possible doubt of our senses. To convey this thought, Descartes has three main arguments in the First Meditation: The dream argument, the deceiving God argument, and the evil demon â€Å"or evil genius†Read MoreThe Meditations By Rene Descartes1384 Words   |  6 PagesRenà © Descartes main goal in the Meditations is to establish that one exists and that a perfect God exists. However, he first argues that the idea that everything perceived around one could be false because the senses are sometimes deceiving. In the first Meditation, Descartes introduces skepticism and brings forth a method of doubt in which he evaluates his beliefs, and questions whether they are true or false and why they should be doubted. He presents various hypothesis that prove there is r easonRead MoreAnalysis Of Rene Descartes s Meditations On First Philosophy1066 Words   |  5 Pagesargued that everything perceived must be real due to God being unable to deceive, and that the physical world only exists in one’s mind. In my view, it is not certain that the physical world is real, but one should act as if it is. Renà ¨ Descartes, in Meditations on First Philosophy, wrote each section after successive â€Å"meditations.† In Descartes’s first meditation, he claims it is unable to be proven whether anything besides one’s mind actually exists, using dreams as an example. He mentions how dreamsRead MoreDavid Hume And Renee Descartes s Theories Of Knowledge And Ideas1356 Words   |  6 Pagesorigination of ideas. Hume claims that all ideas are copies of impressions, which come from sensation. Descartes disagrees with this, arguing that in order to obtain knowledge, there must be a rational method for obtaining it, and that the senses are not a reliable source. This essay will present both philosopher’s arguments and compare and contrast each perspective regarding matters of knowledge and ideas. I will then argue how Hume’s philosophy is the more viable theory, and give you my reason’s asRead MoreDescartes s Meditations, Descartes Essay1139 Words   |  5 PagesEssay 3: Prompt 1 Though unstated throughout his meditations, Descartes primary goal in the Meditations is to lay a strong foundation for the mathematical science that is emerging during his lifetime. There are two Aristotelian doctrines that Descartes wants to reject, the first which is final causation. The second is qualitative science, because Descartes tends to favor quantitative science over final causation. In Descartes’s first meditation his method of doubt is seen clearly since he knowsRead MoreDescartes Six Meditations on First Philosophy Essay1347 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout the six meditations on First Philosophy, French philosopher Rene Descartes seeks to find a concrete foundation for the basis of science, one which he states can only include certain and unquestionable beliefs. Anything less concrete, he argues will be exposed to the external world and to opposition by philosophical sceptics. The sense of the Cartesian reform is the imposition of a new method of thinking. Descartes’ method to begin with is reductive, removing all knowledge acquired withoutRead MoreHappiness Is The Most Important Aspect Of The Mind920 Words   |  4 Pagescontrolling your thoughts you are able to control your outcome of situations. Happiness is awareness and the feeling of complete and whole. In order to achieve happiness one must first realize that every sentient being-that is, every creature endowed with even a very basic sense of awareness which can be defined by three basic aspects or characteristics: body, speech and mind. It is important to know that the mind is essence, is the most important aspect of all creatures that share the attribute ofRead MoreEffects and Techniques in Haiku811 Words   |  4 PagesQuestion 3 a) My interpretation of the meaning of the poem is that individuals can find peace and rest, living with only the bare essentials. While this may seem an austere life, simple living can allow individuals to find the beauty, greatness and richness that exist all around them in nature – as in an autumn dusk. Even in moments of sadness and despair, nature has the power to uplift us. b) My interpretation of the poem is based on the context in which haiku exists, my knowledge of theRead MoreResponse to George Berkeleys Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous1009 Words   |  5 PagesA Response to George Berkeley’s Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous The following essay is a response to George Berkeley’s Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous, in which he argues that the Cartesian notion of substance is incoherent, that the word matter as Descartes uses it, does not mean anything. This essay is also about words as memories, and about the two fictional Marcels, young and old. Hylas is a Cartesian thinker, and Philonous is Berkeley’s voice of reason

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.