DQ3

Class Responses and Instructor Comments

>From Wai Yan Ng:

What do you mean? Doesn't Descartes think that the sense does not tell him nothing and it is wrong to trust it? I am not sure what the question is asking.

>rm says: The question is asking why he shouldn't trust his senses. Remember, the doubt of illusion doesn't get rid of all sensory knowledge.

>From natalie:

Science and his religious beliefs, since the church was under attack, make him doubt all of what his senses tell him. For ex he used to always believe in aristotles theories but then later they were proved wrong by new science.

>rm says: The discussion of the historical background was meant to set up a context for Descartes, specifically, but he doesn't really talk about these things in the Meditations. I think he wants them to be broadly applicable; you should be able to put yourself in his place, even if you don't have the same questions about religious beliefs, for example. In this question, I am really asking about the second, stronger sensory doubt.

>From W Y Ng:

During that time, the church dominated majority of the things like education and their religious beliefs. Athough, Decartes was very religious person, he was having doubts, because the helio-centric theory that nailed the coffin to the church. Also, that was major downfall for the church. Decartes believed that senses does not really tell him much,it could be the evil doer telling him to do bad things.

> rm says: The key word in this question is 'all'. He doubts all of what his senses tell him before he brings up the deceiver (who is, I guess, able to make Descartes immoral, though that's not his focus.) The focus on religion, here, is misdirected.

>From anna grier: He comes to doubt all that his senses tell him because these things could be imaginary and not true,or he may be in a state of slumber and merely dreaming.

>rm says: Perhaps the use of the word 'imaginary' can be misleading, here. Remember, Descartes uses 'imagination' to refer to the capacity of the mind to receive sensory images.

>From Avrohom: isnt this talking about the previous question 'dont trust something that lied to you even once'?

>rm says: They are related, but the previous question is about illusion. Anna's response, above, is pretty close to the mark, for this question. It's about the second doubt.

Descartes Reading Guide 3. How does Descartes come to doubt all of what his senses tell him?		Back to Descartes Reading Guide Back to Philosophy 101 Home Next Question
Enter your response to the above question, or to a previous response, in the form below, or use this email link. I will post your response on the right, and comment if I think I can be helpful. When emailing, instead of using the form, please indicate the question number. When using the form below, if you neglect to enter your name or email, I won't know who you are.	Class Responses and Instructor Comments >From Wai Yan Ng: What do you mean? Doesn't Descartes think that the sense does not tell him nothing and it is wrong to trust it? I am not sure what the question is asking. >rm says: The question is asking why he shouldn't trust his senses. Remember, the doubt of illusion doesn't get rid of all sensory knowledge. >From natalie: Science and his religious beliefs, since the church was under attack, make him doubt all of what his senses tell him. For ex he used to always believe in aristotles theories but then later they were proved wrong by new science. >rm says: The discussion of the historical background was meant to set up a context for Descartes, specifically, but he doesn't really talk about these things in the Meditations. I think he wants them to be broadly applicable; you should be able to put yourself in his place, even if you don't have the same questions about religious beliefs, for example. In this question, I am really asking about the second, stronger sensory doubt. >From W Y Ng: During that time, the church dominated majority of the things like education and their religious beliefs. Athough, Decartes was very religious person, he was having doubts, because the helio-centric theory that nailed the coffin to the church. Also, that was major downfall for the church. Decartes believed that senses does not really tell him much,it could be the evil doer telling him to do bad things. > rm says: The key word in this question is 'all'. He doubts all of what his senses tell him before he brings up the deceiver (who is, I guess, able to make Descartes immoral, though that's not his focus.) The focus on religion, here, is misdirected. >From anna grier: He comes to doubt all that his senses tell him because these things could be imaginary and not true,or he may be in a state of slumber and merely dreaming. >rm says: Perhaps the use of the word 'imaginary' can be misleading, here. Remember, Descartes uses 'imagination' to refer to the capacity of the mind to receive sensory images. >From Avrohom: isnt this talking about the previous question 'dont trust something that lied to you even once'? >rm says: They are related, but the previous question is about illusion. Anna's response, above, is pretty close to the mark, for this question. It's about the second doubt.
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