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Meditations on First Philosophy by Descartes: Failure of Descartes replies to his objections
In ‘Meditations on First Philosophy' Descartes provides a true and certain foundation upon which to build a system of knowledge. According to Descartes, we can only guarantee our beliefs regarding a reality by limiting all what we believe to be indubitable. In his first Meditation, Descartes argues that the existence of a reflective thought should be the first principle of philosophy since it is indubitable (Descartes 2). He also argues that a person's ordinary experience of the world cannot be used to provide a guaranteed foundation upon which other knowledge can be based upon. The mediator reasons that he needs to …show more content…
Locke argues that if a person possesses innate knowledge that is locked up in his mind, then the person must have consciousness of the existence of the knowledge. This is contrary to Descartes arguments who argue that there some principles that are known to us immediately like the idea of one's existence. These principles are revealed to people by natural light and cannot be doubted (Descartes 89) and he concludes that these principles are innate. According to Locke, the external experience is that experience that helps us acquire knowledge through the use of our senses. This means that sense is used in the analysis of physical characteristics of objects that are in front of a person. Descartes argues that our senses are quite deceptive, and therefore anything that passes through the senses is untrue and doubtful. Descartes' response to the first objection against Descartes first mediation fails because any people acquire knowledge through their senses. Locke rejects the replies by Descartes as well as the existence of any innate principles and argues that there are no innate ideas otherwise these ideas would be immediately known to children. It is through the mind that people gain knowledge. Locke does not believe that there exists any certain knowledge rather believes in the knowledge that is probable to a very high degree. According to Locke, knowledge does rely on observations and senses and that ideas and knowledge originate from reflections and sensations and also that all knowledge is founded on our experiences. Locke questions on how external objects can be processed through human minds directly without the use of senses. To Locke, this seems quite impossible, and this is because every physical object has its physical characteristics that can only be felt by our senses and if the senses are not used, then it might be impossible to understand them and interpret
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Meditations on First Philosophy by Descartes: Failure of Descartes replies to his objections
In ‘Meditations on First Philosophy' Descartes provides a true and certain foundation upon which to build a system of knowledge. According to Descartes, we can only guarantee our beliefs regarding a reality by limiting all what we believe to be indubitable. In his first Meditation, Descartes argues that the existence of a reflective thought should be the first principle of philosophy since it is indubitable (Descartes 2). He also argues that a person's ordinary experience of the world cannot be used to provide a guaranteed foundation upon which other knowledge can be based upon. The mediator reasons that he needs to …show more content…
Locke argues that if a person possesses innate knowledge that is locked up in his mind, then the person must have consciousness of the existence of the knowledge. This is contrary to Descartes arguments who argue that there some principles that are known to us immediately like the idea of one's existence. These principles are revealed to people by natural light and cannot be doubted (Descartes 89) and he concludes that these principles are innate. According to Locke, the external experience is that experience that helps us acquire knowledge through the use of our senses. This means that sense is used in the analysis of physical characteristics of objects that are in front of a person. Descartes argues that our senses are quite deceptive, and therefore anything that passes through the senses is untrue and doubtful. Descartes' response to the first objection against Descartes first mediation fails because any people acquire knowledge through their senses. Locke rejects the replies by Descartes as well as the existence of any innate principles and argues that there are no innate ideas otherwise these ideas would be immediately known to children. It is through the mind that people gain knowledge. Locke does not believe that there exists any certain knowledge rather believes in the knowledge that is probable to a very high degree. According to Locke, knowledge does rely on observations and senses and that ideas and knowledge originate from reflections and sensations and also that all knowledge is founded on our experiences. Locke questions on how external objects can be processed through human minds directly without the use of senses. To Locke, this seems quite impossible, and this is because every physical object has its physical characteristics that can only be felt by our senses and if the senses are not used, then it might be impossible to understand them and interpret