Meditation 1. Argument From Illusion

We needn’t reject sources of knowledge one by one – we can reject by class.

Authorities – parents, books, famous people, etc can’t be trusted – they have been known to lie and be in error.

Descartes accepts – though not Empiricist – that the senses are a major source of knowledge.

But the senses give us false info regularly – sticks look bent in water, mirages, etc.

So reject all sense experience as a class! Wait a minute – this is going too far – I’m

certain of sitting here before the fire, etc.

“It would be imprudent to trust what has deceived us even once.”

Descartes. 1st Meditation.

Meditation 1. Argument From Dreaming

Descartes talks about it being certain he sits before a fire in his pyjamas, book in hand. Sense experience is obviously real!

But what if this is a dream? Can I tell the difference – always and for

certain – between dream and reality? But even if dreaming, the images fused in

even bizarre dreams are from “reality” - shapes, colours, numbers, etc.

So ideas remain even if senses are questioned.

A priori is stronger that a posteriori!

“Awake or sleeping, two and three added together always make five, and a square never has more than four sides – truths so apparent can’t be suspected of any falsity or uncertainty.”

1st Meditation

Meditation 1. Evil Demon (1) The senses can’t be trusted, We don’t know if we are awake or

dreaming. All a posteriori knowledge doubtful. It’s not impossible that it’s not God who

controls things but an evil demon with omnipotent power.

God wouldn’t deceive us but an evil demon might.

So we could be fooled about maths and other a priori matters too!

All “knowledge” – outer and inner now is profoundly uncertain.

“I will suppose that there is an evil demon, supremely evil and cunning, who works as hard as he can to deceive me.”

1st Meditation

Meditation 1. Homework.Purpose:- Knowledge of flow of argument.

Use Beginner’s Guide to Descartes’ Meditations, 12-18 & class notes.

Either –

Write a diary entry for the day of the 1st Meditation.

Write the 1st Meditation as a sports commentary.

Write as Descartes talking to his therapist. Dialogue?

Write as the evil demon.600 words min.