Is the cartesian circle a serious problem for descartes

Assignment Help Biology

Reference no: EM133596910

Assignment:

At AT7: 35, in the Third Meditation, Descartes defines his criterion for truth, that those things are true which he can clearly and distinctly perceive with his intellect, and then goes on in that meditation to present two arguments for the existence of the Judeo-Christian God, claiming that such a being must exist because he then clearly and distinctly perceives/understands these arguments and their conclusions. Then at AT7: 69-71, in the Fifth Meditation, after arguing a third time that the Judeo-Christian God exists, Descartes argues that the existence of the Judeo-Christian God is necessary for anything to be perceived clearly and distinctly, i.e. to know that anything is true and not a deception.

This is known as The Cartesian Circle: that Descartes uses his criterion of the clarity and distinctness of his perceptions to argue for the existence of God, but also uses the existence of God to guarantee the clarity and distinctness of his perceptions. Since Descartes' time, this has been pointed out as a fatal flaw, or at least a serious problem, with Descartes' reasoning in the meditations. For the rules of logic do not allow circular reasoning, i.e. using a premise to support a conclusion, but also using that conclusion to support the same premise.

Is The Cartesian Circle a serious problem for Descartes? Or is there a way to answer this objection?

Reference no: EM133596910

Questions Cloud

Describe the mechanism of one homoestatic control system : Describe the mechanism of one homoestatic control system found in your body - be sure to identify the sensor, the integrating center and the effector.

Why does average water volume of the human body change : Why does the average water volume of the human body change with age? Which of the following contains the least water: Blood, Brain, Bone, Liver?

Describe a mnemonic device to help you remember a term : Describe a mnemonic device to help you remember a term or concept from this chapter. Write it out below and define/describe the mnemonic devise you used.

Find the lesion posterior column pathway : Please explain this lesion and is it ipsilateral or contralateral: Find the Lesion(s) Posterior Column Pathway.

Is the cartesian circle a serious problem for descartes : Is The Cartesian Circle a serious problem for Descartes? Or is there a way to answer this objection?

Evaluate the causes of stroke : Evaluate the causes of stroke. Discuss the differences between transient ischemic attack and cerebrovascular accidents (CVA).

What body systems are directly impacted by pneumonia : What body system(s) are directly impacted by pneumonia and how are those systems affected?

How can inspiratory flow rate is lower than expiratory flow : How can the inspiratory flow rate is lower than expiratory flow rate during quiet breathing. Explain?

Differences between graded potentials and action potentials : Explain the differences between graded potentials and action potentials.

User Account

All Pages