Descartes Wax Analogy Analysis

The Discussion and the Conclusion: In Meditation II, Descartes introduces the “Wax Analogy” in order to demonstrate conclusively that things are known through the intellect rather than the senses and that the mind is better known than the body. Specifically, the argument is concerned with how we know rather than what we know. The argument concentrates on transformation— that is, a piece of wax melting into liquid wax. Descartes states that our senses allow us to know about a piece of wax: its colour, taste, smell, size, shape, and solidity. When the wax is placed near a fire, it melts; thus, its properties change as well. However, the same wax remains. Therefore, our awareness regarding the solid wax and the liquid wax being equivalent …show more content…
He states that the essence of the wax can be known by either: a) the senses or b) the imagination or c) the intellect. To conclude that the essence of the wax is known through the intellect, Descartes must demonstrate that it is not known by the senses or the imagination. Hence, he must present arguments that 1) negate the senses and 2) negate the imagination. Negating Sense: Initially, the wax appears to have features such as colour, taste, smell, size, shape, and solidity. These qualities are the wax’s sensory properties. These qualities can alter without the essence of the wax altering. Aspects of a thing that change while the thing continues to exist cannot be the essence of that thing. Therefore, sensory properties are not the essence of the wax. Hence, the sensory faculty does not grasp the essence of the wax. The faculty of the sense only grasps sensory qualities. Negating Imagination: Next, the wax appears to be flexible, changeable, and extended. It would be impossible for the imagination to picture an infinite number of possible changes under this mutability. Further, the essence of a thing is that which stays when all other qualities change. Therefore, the imagination cannot grasp the essence of the wax conceived of something mutable and flexible. Hence, the imagination cannot grasp the essence of the wax. Concluding Intellect: Therefore, the essence of the wax is grasped by the intellect. The intellect allows one to understand what they perceive. For example, if one says they perceive the wax after it has been melted, they are referring it as the intellect perceives it rather than their eyes. The intellect connects the solid wax with the melted wax— that is, the intellect organizes the information which allows us to understand such an occurrence. In contrast, the senses tell