Compare And Contrast Descartes And Hume
Sajune Blanchard
Introduction to Philosphy
Descartes vs Hume
Epistemology is a branch of philosophy that focuses on the theories of knowledge and justified beliefs. There are various methods that philosophers choose to arrive at knowledge and detect what can be true. Some of the philosophers that have played an important role in epistemology are René Descartes and David Hume. Even though they had spent their time doubting the sources of human knowledge, their approach was different although they wanted to arrive at a conclusion about the origin of knowledge. René Descartes, born on March 31, 1596, is a substance dualist. He believes that there are extended substances, such as bodies, neurons, and planets and there are also thinking …show more content…
What if we think we exist and we really do not exist? What if we are dreaming? What if there is a demon that has control over our brain and makes us think that there are real objects and in reality they do not exist? What if every perception, every sensation, and every feeling is a lie?” After thinking about all those things, he arrived to the conclusion that he is thinking. He says that since he is thinking, he must exist in some sort of shape or nature. Therefore, he is a thinking thing. That is where his famous line says: “I think, therefore, I am”. By saying that, Descartes claims that he is a “mental substance.” David Hume, born on April 26, 1711, is a materialist. He claims that material objects cause our ideas. Compared to Descartes, he believes that he can doubt his mind. Maybe the mind is not the entity thinking. Maybe the brain is thinking. He believes that he directly experiences a sense impression. When he closes his eyes and tries to think about his mind. He draws blank. Nothing can come up in his mind. Hence, the mind is a bundle of sense impressions and ideas. Again, he is against Descartes specifically when it comes to
Introduction to Philosphy
Descartes vs Hume
Epistemology is a branch of philosophy that focuses on the theories of knowledge and justified beliefs. There are various methods that philosophers choose to arrive at knowledge and detect what can be true. Some of the philosophers that have played an important role in epistemology are René Descartes and David Hume. Even though they had spent their time doubting the sources of human knowledge, their approach was different although they wanted to arrive at a conclusion about the origin of knowledge. René Descartes, born on March 31, 1596, is a substance dualist. He believes that there are extended substances, such as bodies, neurons, and planets and there are also thinking …show more content…
What if we think we exist and we really do not exist? What if we are dreaming? What if there is a demon that has control over our brain and makes us think that there are real objects and in reality they do not exist? What if every perception, every sensation, and every feeling is a lie?” After thinking about all those things, he arrived to the conclusion that he is thinking. He says that since he is thinking, he must exist in some sort of shape or nature. Therefore, he is a thinking thing. That is where his famous line says: “I think, therefore, I am”. By saying that, Descartes claims that he is a “mental substance.” David Hume, born on April 26, 1711, is a materialist. He claims that material objects cause our ideas. Compared to Descartes, he believes that he can doubt his mind. Maybe the mind is not the entity thinking. Maybe the brain is thinking. He believes that he directly experiences a sense impression. When he closes his eyes and tries to think about his mind. He draws blank. Nothing can come up in his mind. Hence, the mind is a bundle of sense impressions and ideas. Again, he is against Descartes specifically when it comes to