Rene Descartes, also known as the “father of modern philosophy”, was a rationalist and epistemologist. A seventeenth century philosopher, Descartes quest for the truth caused him to create a lasting system that affected epistemological and subjective turns. In the epistemological turn, Descartes conveys the idea that one must account for what they know before they can talk about what is real; similarly, in the subjective turn, Descartes reveals the idea that subjective experience is the most certain. He explains this in Meditations I and II by stating that the senses are deceptive, there is an evil deceiver, and his intellect can reveal to him what is real. Overall, as noticed in Meditations I and II, Rene Descartes impacted both an epistemological
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By stating that there is an evil deceiver, Descartes attempts to prove that he exists. For instance, Rene Descartes subjectively says that in order for him to be deceived by an evil deceiver, he would have to exist. This brings about his premise “I am, I exist, that is certain”, and the conclusion “a thing that thinks” (Descartes 53). Similarly, with an axiom of certainty that he exists, Descartes uses faculties power; considering, as a thinking thing, he can doubt, affirm, deny, and refuse. Likewise, Descartes uses the faculties of the mind to find truths. He begins with intellect (concepts), imagination (geometric objects), and sensation. Using wax as an example, Descartes removes imagination because it is unable to tell him whether the wax is still wax because the shape changes, and he removes sensation because his senses cannot tell when the wax changes. Left with intellect, Descartes states that since his intellect doesn’t depend on the senses and physical existence, it would give him information on the wax. This notion is epistemological because Descartes believes that intellect can provide information on what is real; additionally, this is subjective because he believes that even though the senses and physical existence can’t prove what is real, he is certain that his intellect
By stating that there is an evil deceiver, Descartes attempts to prove that he exists. For instance, Rene Descartes subjectively says that in order for him to be deceived by an evil deceiver, he would have to exist. This brings about his premise “I am, I exist, that is certain”, and the conclusion “a thing that thinks” (Descartes 53). Similarly, with an axiom of certainty that he exists, Descartes uses faculties power; considering, as a thinking thing, he can doubt, affirm, deny, and refuse. Likewise, Descartes uses the faculties of the mind to find truths. He begins with intellect (concepts), imagination (geometric objects), and sensation. Using wax as an example, Descartes removes imagination because it is unable to tell him whether the wax is still wax because the shape changes, and he removes sensation because his senses cannot tell when the wax changes. Left with intellect, Descartes states that since his intellect doesn’t depend on the senses and physical existence, it would give him information on the wax. This notion is epistemological because Descartes believes that intellect can provide information on what is real; additionally, this is subjective because he believes that even though the senses and physical existence can’t prove what is real, he is certain that his intellect