Q3: What are the main differences between rationalism and empiricism as approaches to knowledge? Explain the advantages and disadvantages of each‚ using Descartes (Second Meditation) as the example of a rationalist‚ and Hume or Locke as the example of an empiricist. In your view which approach better explains the common-sense knowledge of the world that we take for granted? Common-sense knowledge is information we know and understand unproblematically. It could be that a spider has six legs‚ your
Premium
Rationalism vs. Empiricism First published Thu Aug 19‚ 2004; substantive revision Thu Mar 21‚ 2013 The dispute between rationalism and empiricism concerns the extent to which we are dependent upon sense experience in our effort to gain knowledge. Rationalists claim that there are significant ways in which our concepts and knowledge are gained independently of sense experience. Empiricists claim that sense experience is the ultimate source of all our concepts and knowledge. Rationalists generally
Premium Empiricism Rationalism Epistemology
Rationalism and Empiricism almost feel like polar opposites. To begin with‚ rationalism believes one has priori knowledge. Priori knowledge is basically "fundamental truths that everyone just knows." For example‚ the idea that "everything has a shape and size." It’s an innate truth that we were already aware of. Rationalists think that we were born knowing everything already‚ but due to some traumatic event at birth‚ we forget everything we know. As we continue development on Earth‚ we begin to remember
Premium Education Teacher School
the foundations of all our knowledge. What is most basic in any human set of beliefs? What is the foundation in any human set of beliefs? What is our origin for human knowledge? Theories applying to these questions divide into two rival schools of thought‚ rationalism and empiricism. The conflict between rationalism and empiricism takes place within epistemology‚ the branch of philosophy devoted to studying the nature‚ sources and limits of knowledge. The war between rationalists and empiricists
Premium Empiricism Rationalism Epistemology
Descartes’ Second Meditation In Descartes’ Second Meditation the key philosophical idea of “I think‚ therefore I am” is introduced and thus begins a new age in western philosophy. Some of the arguments Descartes provide in order to support his claims are that in order to doubt anything‚ you must be able to think and if you think‚ you exist. Descartes brings up the point that there may be no physical world‚ along with that thought comes the doubt of anything else being real‚ which again
Premium Mind Critical thinking Epistemology
topic of rationalism. I will be using Rene Descartes: Meditation on First Philosophy as my only resource. I plan to address each question asked one at a time in order to answer them completely. To understand what Descartes’ point of view‚ I plan on beginning with an open mind. I plan to reread the section and reevaluate the notes taken in class to help formulate my opinion‚ and then I plan to approach each question and answer it. I will be analyzing Rene Descartes’ view on knowledge. He says that
Free Mind Perception Scientific method
In this paper I will discuss the similarities and differences between Rene Descartes and John Locke‚ David Hume and Plato. They believe in rationalism or empiricism respectively. Rationalist believed that an important group of fundamental concepts are known intuitively through reason‚ opposite to experience. For rationalist‚ the knowledge is innate and that it can¡¯t come from sources such as the senses. They are well known as Descartes‚ Plato. Empiricist argued that all ideas tracer ultimately back
Premium Empiricism Rationalism Epistemology
The basic definition of empiricism is that the philosophy that all knowledge originates in sensory experience. The definition of Rationalism is the epistemological theory that reason is either the sole or primary source of knowledge; in practice‚ most rationalists maintain merely that at least some truths are not known solely on the basis of sensory experience. Plato which suggested within the "Cave Theory" which showed a group of Prisoners is placed so they can see‚ on the wall of the cave‚ only
Premium Empiricism Immanuel Kant Reason
Descartes views in the Second Meditation is that he tries to clarify precisely what this “I” is‚ this “thing that he thinks.” He concludes that he is not only something that thinks‚ understands‚ and wills‚ but is also something that imagines and senses. Even though he thinks he may be dreaming or deceived by an evil demon‚ he’s still something that can imagine‚ hear‚ and see things. His sensory perceptions may not be truthful‚ but they are certainly a part of the same mind that thinks. He believes
Premium Mind Epistemology Metaphysics
I applaud Descartes in actually establishing something (that is not nothing) in his second Meditation and think he is getting somewhere‚ however‚ I also feel that there remains a large hole in his logic and that he is perhaps not being quite as methodical and careful in the conclusions he draws from the cogito. The starting point is‚ of course‚ the projection of thought – the actual act of thinking and the way in which it defines and characterizes the human mind. To be as meticulous and scrupulous
Premium Epistemology Metaphysics Mind