Summary Philosophy 222 Notes

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Philosophy 222
Descartes (1596 – 1650)
 Father of modern philosophy
 Mathematical reason
 Laid important philosophical groundwork for the sciences
 True knowledge = absolute and universal certainty
 Aim: to prove a universal, certain, reasonable foundation of knowledge.
 Hierarchy of knowledge:
1. Metaphysics (Root of all knowledge).
2. Physics (Stem of all knowledge)
3. The rest of knowledge
 Employs scepticism to reach the true foundation of knowledge.
 Method of doubt:
1. Existence of God?
2. Existence of the world?
3. Own existence?
(Can all be doubted?)
 Assumes classical use of individual thought and reasonable justifications to find true
knowledge.
 Everyone who uses the same certain knowledge foundation will reach the same
conclusions.
 New foundation of knowledge based on what is absolutely true (universal truths).
 Applies methodological scepticism and universal doubt.

3 main goals
 Find universal truths
 Establish certain scientific method.
 Reconcile the mechanistic world view to concepts such as free will, the soul and God.

Mathematics
 Cartesian
 Reveal certainties about the world
 Apply math principles to understand human knowledge.
 Translate natural world to maths
 Intuition and deduction
 Based on self-evident truths.
 Certain premises = certain conclusions.

1. Doubt
3 layers of doubt:
1. Sensory doubt
 Senses can trick us.