Eastern and Western Philosophers
Dustin Robison
University of Phoenix
Eastern and Western Philosophers
The Western philosopher that I chose is Rene Descartes. To me, he seems like the most logical choice because of the way he questioned himself in all his religious beliefs and the ways in which he came up with to prove whether or not his beliefs were valid or not, if only to himself. The way he seemed to think is so much like the way I tend to think; similar doubts and questions.
I believe that during his time, Rene Descartes, appealed to the most people in the way that he thought; the way in which he did not try to hide his doubts and how the methods he came up with seemed so “human”. Descartes biggest desire was for something true and certain in a time when it seemed that all that existed was everything false and nothing certain.
Rene Descartes came up with three different ways (proofs) in which to determine the validity of his own thoughts and beliefs. The first one, simply put is that for the idea and his belief in God to have occurred to him, it had to have come from a higher more perfect being, this being God, Himself. A simple human mind could not have come up with the idea. The second proof (which is very similar to the first one) is such: 1. A person exists as a thing having an idea of God; 2. Everything/one in existence has a cause of existence and a source that sustains it; 3. The only logical adequate source of causation and sustenance is God; 4. Do God must exist. The third proof is: 1. The concept of a being who is all perfection has to be a concept of God; 2. Because of existence, it is perfection; 3. Because of these first two beliefs, there can be no concept of God NOT existing; 4. Therefore, God does exist.
At first glance these “proofs” may seem complicated and not at all reasonable or logical, however if they are read and broken down to one line at a time, they become more clear. When I was able to look... [continues]
Dustin Robison
University of Phoenix
Eastern and Western Philosophers
The Western philosopher that I chose is Rene Descartes. To me, he seems like the most logical choice because of the way he questioned himself in all his religious beliefs and the ways in which he came up with to prove whether or not his beliefs were valid or not, if only to himself. The way he seemed to think is so much like the way I tend to think; similar doubts and questions.
I believe that during his time, Rene Descartes, appealed to the most people in the way that he thought; the way in which he did not try to hide his doubts and how the methods he came up with seemed so “human”. Descartes biggest desire was for something true and certain in a time when it seemed that all that existed was everything false and nothing certain.
Rene Descartes came up with three different ways (proofs) in which to determine the validity of his own thoughts and beliefs. The first one, simply put is that for the idea and his belief in God to have occurred to him, it had to have come from a higher more perfect being, this being God, Himself. A simple human mind could not have come up with the idea. The second proof (which is very similar to the first one) is such: 1. A person exists as a thing having an idea of God; 2. Everything/one in existence has a cause of existence and a source that sustains it; 3. The only logical adequate source of causation and sustenance is God; 4. Do God must exist. The third proof is: 1. The concept of a being who is all perfection has to be a concept of God; 2. Because of existence, it is perfection; 3. Because of these first two beliefs, there can be no concept of God NOT existing; 4. Therefore, God does exist.
At first glance these “proofs” may seem complicated and not at all reasonable or logical, however if they are read and broken down to one line at a time, they become more clear. When I was able to look... [continues]
Cite This Essay
- APA
-
(2011, 01). Eastern and Western Philosophers. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 01, 2011, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Eastern-And-Western-Philosophers-565873.html
- MLA
-
"Eastern and Western Philosophers" StudyMode.com. 01 2011. 01 2011 <http://www.studymode.com/essays/Eastern-And-Western-Philosophers-565873.html>.
- CHICAGO
-
"Eastern and Western Philosophers." StudyMode.com. 01, 2011. Accessed 01, 2011. http://www.studymode.com/essays/Eastern-And-Western-Philosophers-565873.html.
