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Questions tagged [descartes]

Questions related to René Descartes (31 March 1596 – 11 February 1650)

4 votes
2 answers
108 views

Descartes Statement in Second Meditation is illogical?

In the second paragraph of Meditation Two: Concerning the Nature of the Human Mind: That it is better known than the Body, Descartes writes “Therefore I suppose that everything I see is false. I ...
Matt Harper's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
154 views

Blaise Pascal and a possible unfinished Philosophical System?

We know that Blaise Pascal died young and was unable to develop many of his theses that are embryonically present in his Pensées, his treatise on Grace, or his reflections on the spirit of geometry. ...
Ian's user avatar
  • 161
3 votes
0 answers
39 views

Did Descartes declare the "Non Cogito" first, prior to "cogito ergo sum"

I took A-Level Philosophy, during which we studied Descartes "Meditations" at length. I remember our teacher explaining that, whilst "Cogito ergo sum" was the famous phrasing, ...
Brondahl's user avatar
  • 176
2 votes
2 answers
57 views

"i think therefore i am", revist, does criticisms really hold?

In Wikipedia the critiques don't make much sense to me https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cogito,_ergo_sum#Critique For example, it is said that "Saul Fisher 'points out that recognition that one has ...
Parsa Fakhar's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
85 views

René Descartes' and Wittgenstein Doubt: Self and the Existence of Others?

Can one doubt their own existence in the world while simultaneously doubting the existence of others? If one's being isn't present because they aren't present themselves, wouldn't that make it ...
Hadibinalshiab's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
54 views

Is it audacious and false to encapsulate Descartes Philosophy in this one simple sentence? [closed]

Namely: "I, therefore God, therefore body and mind". I want to see if I understand the bigger picture of his Philosophy.
Deni Abdumuslimov's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
120 views

Why does Descartes derives existence from "Thinking" and not from "Consciously experiencing"?

I am reading Descartes Meditations and in the second meditation there is the following quote that is obviously central: "But I have convinced myself that there is absolutely nothing in the world,...
Guenterino's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
72 views

Can somebody help me choose relevant literature

I want to excuse myself beforehand if this is an inappropriate question on this forum. I'm just starting studying and I need literature for my little paperwork in a philosophy seminar. The main line ...
Deni Abdumuslimov's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
55 views

Descartes’ Clear and Distinct Principle

Can someone explain Descartes’ clear and distinct principle in depth? I am reading his Meditations, and find the explanation presented there to be short and inadequate for such a bold claim. I would ...
Juliet Wagner's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
900 views

Does 'cogito ergo sum' actually establish the existence of an objective truth/reality?

Before I start describing my questions, I would like to draw some background on my understanding and knowledge of Descartes' ontological(metaphysical) views regarding the cogito and philosophy in ...
How why e's user avatar
  • 1,432
4 votes
2 answers
459 views

What logical arguments have been made to say an effect cannot be greater than its cause?

I'm currently writing a paper on Descartes argument for God based on his third meditation. One premise of the argument that seems fairly important is the claim that "no effect can be greater than ...
Luke Hill's user avatar
  • 321
9 votes
4 answers
2k views

Does Dissociative ego disorder challenge Descartes‘ „cogito-argument“?

In the 17th century Descartes set out for a new start in philosophy. Applying the method of systematic doubt he searched for a philosophical statement whose truth stands firm and cannot be questioned ...
Jo Wehler's user avatar
  • 33.9k
3 votes
2 answers
165 views

Is the opposite of Descartes “cogito , ergo sum” also true?

Is the opposite of Descartes dictum “I think therefore I am “ also true ? That is , Is “I am unable to think therefore I am not” also true ? That is , Can I say “Those unable to think do not have Self”...
Dheeraj Verma's user avatar
-1 votes
3 answers
132 views

Burden of proof and solipsism

If we say that the burden of proof is on the one making the claim and thus we should only believe in something if we have proof and should otherwise discard it, than the saying that an external world ...
Rayyan khan's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
275 views

A question about Descartes argument for the distinction between humans and animals/machines in Discourse on the Method Part 5

Descartes seemed to have the following problem: At this point I had dwelt on this issue to show that if there were such machines having the organs and outward shape of a monkey or any other ...
Curulian's user avatar
  • 123

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