Descartes Argument from Illusion
Kevin Kim
Prof. Bozicevic
Intro to Philosophy
10/7/14
Argument from Illusion
Decartes' was a very rigorous philosopher who introduced a new methodology of philosophy which states; anything that can be doubted to the slightest extent, is conceivably nonexistent. All things perceived by his senses up to now, may not all be true, for he has been deceived by his senses prior to this enlightened acknowledgement of his skeptical doubts. He raises arguments pertaining the unreliability of his senses, meaning he can only trust what has never deceived and, therefore, must raise even the slightest doubt in every aspect of his mind and his perception of outside world. Regardless of what actually exists, Descartes' knows his mind thinks and therefore his mind must exist.
In Descartes' first meditation, he argues what can be called into doubt, could potentially be nonexistent for his senses has deceived him multiple times before. He explains how our whole thought on the realities of outside world may be an illusion, and may all be a continuous dream. He introduces this doubt of an awoken consciousness because our dreams may sometimes feel so real that one can not decipher the difference between a dream and reality. He argues that our senses in our dream may feel so genuine that it juxtaposes the authentic dream and reality and raise uncertainties in what actually exists. I can empathize with this argument because I have been in a dream where it felt like a reality, but the idea that I am dreaming right now is bizarre.
He does admit objects which appear to us in sleep are, as it were, painted representations which are not imaginary, but existent through our past knowledge through senses. I agree with this idea because one can not imagine a completely original idea without inferring on memory. For example a Centaur is an idea of a man that is half man, half horse but the idea originally derived from a horse and a man. Descartes’ knows he can not doubt
Prof. Bozicevic
Intro to Philosophy
10/7/14
Argument from Illusion
Decartes' was a very rigorous philosopher who introduced a new methodology of philosophy which states; anything that can be doubted to the slightest extent, is conceivably nonexistent. All things perceived by his senses up to now, may not all be true, for he has been deceived by his senses prior to this enlightened acknowledgement of his skeptical doubts. He raises arguments pertaining the unreliability of his senses, meaning he can only trust what has never deceived and, therefore, must raise even the slightest doubt in every aspect of his mind and his perception of outside world. Regardless of what actually exists, Descartes' knows his mind thinks and therefore his mind must exist.
In Descartes' first meditation, he argues what can be called into doubt, could potentially be nonexistent for his senses has deceived him multiple times before. He explains how our whole thought on the realities of outside world may be an illusion, and may all be a continuous dream. He introduces this doubt of an awoken consciousness because our dreams may sometimes feel so real that one can not decipher the difference between a dream and reality. He argues that our senses in our dream may feel so genuine that it juxtaposes the authentic dream and reality and raise uncertainties in what actually exists. I can empathize with this argument because I have been in a dream where it felt like a reality, but the idea that I am dreaming right now is bizarre.
He does admit objects which appear to us in sleep are, as it were, painted representations which are not imaginary, but existent through our past knowledge through senses. I agree with this idea because one can not imagine a completely original idea without inferring on memory. For example a Centaur is an idea of a man that is half man, half horse but the idea originally derived from a horse and a man. Descartes’ knows he can not doubt