Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on An Analysis of Universal Doubt. Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 4 page paper examines Descartes' take on doubt. Three meditations are discussed. The idea of universal doubt, and its relevance, is examined. Bibliography lists 1 source.
Page Count:
4 pages (~225 words per page)
File: RT13_SA541Des.rtf
Buy This Term Paper »
Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
Of course, doubt or skepticism is what was at the crux of Descartes theories. Honderich writes: "Descartes made doubt the cornerstone of a philosophical method: in order to place our
knowledge on foundations which are genuinely secure, we should try to doubt all of our beliefs, retaining them only if they are absolutely indubitable" (205). Descartes wrote in Synopsis to
the Meditations that the purpose of the meditations is not to prove what they establish, but rather to show how the world of physics could be mapped reliability and independent
of the usually vague and misleading deliverance of sensory organs (Honderich 189). Hence, Descartes searches for a way to classify things and express them and is not really looking for
answers related to existence or transcendence. Interestingly, many will read his arguments, which are admittedly logical and wonder whether or not they exist in the universe or whether they are
something that has been artificially created for them. In looking at Descartes mediations, there are three skeptical arguments, one of which is called the dreaming
argument. Another is the argument from sense perception and finally, a third argument is the evil demon argument. The dreaming argument is well known. Basically, Descartes questions whether or not
someone is dreaming. If one is dreaming, they sometimes believe that they are awake. Similarly, if someone is awake, how can he be sure? After all, in the dream, one
may sure he is awake but in reality, he is not. One can see where there may be circumstances under which one questions his or her state of consciousness. The
second argument goes to sensory perception. Many people are familiar with the concept that senses are often misleading and wrong. People make mistakes all the time. As ones vision deteriorates
...