Universal Methodic Doubt
Universal Methodic Doubt
All opinions and beliefs must be doubted
As we doubt, we cannot doubt that are doubting
To doubt that we are doubting by itself proves that we are indeed doubting.
Unless we are doubting, we can never attempt to doubt that we are doubting.
The fact that we doubt is to affirm a truth.
We doubt, therefore we exist. Unless we exist. Unless we exist, we cannot doubt.
“I think, therefore, I exist.”
“I doubt, therefore, I am.”
COGITO ERGO SUM
Since we doubt, we are not perfect.
Where did the idea of perfection come from?
We have no recourse but to accept that it must be implanted by a perfect being= GOD
Descartes' Methodic Doubt
René Descartes (1596-1650) is an example of a rationalist. According to Descartes, before we can describe the nature of reality (as is done in metaphysics) or say what it means for something to be or exist (which is the focus of ontology), we must first consider what we mean when we say we know what reality, being, or existence is. He suggests that it is pointless to claim that something is real or exists unless we first know how such a claim could be known as a justified true belief. But to say that our beliefs are justified, we have to be able to base them ultimately on a belief that is itself indubitable. Such a belief could then provide a firm foundation on which all subsequent beliefs are grounded and could thus be known as true. This way of thinking about knowledge is called foundationalism.
First Meditation
Descartes argues that our ordinary experience of the world cannot provide the kind of guaranteed foundation on which all other knowledge can be based. We are often disappointed to learn that what we have been taught are merely prejudices, or that what our senses tell us is incorrect. That should make us wonder about whether all the other things that we think are obvious might likewise be mistaken. In order to test whether what we think we know is truly correct, Descartes suggests that we adopt a method
All opinions and beliefs must be doubted
As we doubt, we cannot doubt that are doubting
To doubt that we are doubting by itself proves that we are indeed doubting.
Unless we are doubting, we can never attempt to doubt that we are doubting.
The fact that we doubt is to affirm a truth.
We doubt, therefore we exist. Unless we exist. Unless we exist, we cannot doubt.
“I think, therefore, I exist.”
“I doubt, therefore, I am.”
COGITO ERGO SUM
Since we doubt, we are not perfect.
Where did the idea of perfection come from?
We have no recourse but to accept that it must be implanted by a perfect being= GOD
Descartes' Methodic Doubt
René Descartes (1596-1650) is an example of a rationalist. According to Descartes, before we can describe the nature of reality (as is done in metaphysics) or say what it means for something to be or exist (which is the focus of ontology), we must first consider what we mean when we say we know what reality, being, or existence is. He suggests that it is pointless to claim that something is real or exists unless we first know how such a claim could be known as a justified true belief. But to say that our beliefs are justified, we have to be able to base them ultimately on a belief that is itself indubitable. Such a belief could then provide a firm foundation on which all subsequent beliefs are grounded and could thus be known as true. This way of thinking about knowledge is called foundationalism.
First Meditation
Descartes argues that our ordinary experience of the world cannot provide the kind of guaranteed foundation on which all other knowledge can be based. We are often disappointed to learn that what we have been taught are merely prejudices, or that what our senses tell us is incorrect. That should make us wonder about whether all the other things that we think are obvious might likewise be mistaken. In order to test whether what we think we know is truly correct, Descartes suggests that we adopt a method