Blackburn on Descartes Discussion

The Project
  • What is Descartes problem, and what is his approach to fixing it?
    • What sort of mistakes is he worried about?
    • Why not evaluate each thing one at a time?
  • Is this a worthy project?  Is it possible?
Senses
  • Can you trust your senses completely?  Why/why not?
  • Descartes claims we can't create new ideas in dreams - we're like a painter mixing colors.  Do you agree with this claim?  Why does this matter to Descartes?
  • Describe the problem of the Evil Demon
Cogito Ergo Sum

  • What does the idea "I think therefore I am" really mean?
  • What does he know about himself?
  • Do you agree on this idea of an "I" potentially existing distinct from a body?  Examples?
Ball of Wax / Ship of Theseus  (p21)
  • Describe his "Ball of Wax" story 
  • Introduce Ship of Thesus problem
God
  • Summarize his "trademark" argument
    • I can imagine a perfect being
    • All my ideas must have a cause  (no new stuff, remember?)
    • The cause must be at least as perfect as its effect
    • Something at least as perfect as my idea caused it
    • The only thing that could do that would be a perfect being
    • So God must exist
  • Problems...
    • His optimism
    • Existing religious philosophy on a series of causes
      • "First mover" argument 

Why does this all matter?

  • Descartes is less valued because of his argument rather than his project
  • He wants a firm footing for everything, so his first challenge is about epistomology and metaphysics.
  • Starts a long running debate (Hume) about certainty.  It's possible we may never know for certain... if so, that matters.  It affects our outlook
    • Humility

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