The project by René Descartes

The project by René Descartes

The project by René Descartes is one of the most recognizable and essential works of philosophy. His main aim of dissecting and ruminating o the project is to present a strong foundation for the world of science. In his meditations, he wanted to elaborate on the Aristotelian science. His true intentions are found in his confessions through a letter to his friend, Mersenne. Doubt is the basis on which a different edifice of philosophical and scientific knowledge is founded. By refuting this science, he intended to replace it with his ideas on the topic. Some of the essential areas that he concerns himself with are limited to metaphysics and epistemology. He thus describes science as the process that is involved in investigating the forms of the world purely based on the mode of observation (Descartes10). Through the said observation, Descartes argues that predictions can be made and explanations deduced. His interest is thus piqued by the field of epistemology. This is defined as the orderly and concept-based study of knowledge. Rene argues that he is interested in gaining a firm foundation of the same. Primarily, he bases his expertise on the environment or the world that surrounds him. Secondly, he -take a keen interest in metaphysics-which is the conceptual and systematic study of reality or things as they are. His primary need to study the same is brought about by his desire to establish a premise of the universe and the fundamental substances of which it is made. These are tied together through their relationship in determining experiences.

Descartes states that as far as deliverance I considered, information derived from reason and senses cannot be trusted. However, through the project, he asserts that there are a number of challenges that re witnessed through everyday perceptions. This is the main argument that he utilizes to establish the infallibility of the philosophical enterprise. That having been said, he goes on to proclaim that there is undoubtedly a difference between a global and local mistake. The veridical sensory experience could be reproduced as a dream if there is no means of distinguishing dreaming from wakefulness. Descartes contends that is since there is no way of separating wakefulness from thoughts, what we see cannot be determined as truth. This is more so the case as veridical sensory experience can, as we are witnessed in the dream form. Thus from this foundation, it is quite clear that the world is a concept of the mind, or is it is. Descartes portends that his memory may be subject to a “malicious demon” and thus is no to be trusted.

According to Rene, true belief can be justified in the form of knowledge. Through his theory of knowledge, we get a concept of indubitable foundational truths. He maintains that experiences during childhood can build specific errors in judgment. Eventually, from his musings, he can establish that the only accurate idea is the fact that he doubts. From this idea, he was able to develop one of the most critical phrases in the line of philosophy. “Cogito ergo sums,” which translates to, I think. Therefore I am. From this single line of thought, he was able to develop a whole field of philosophy that included God and hi existence (Descartes7). This knowledge is founded on the principles of truth, justification, and belief. Where belief is a link between the earth and human beings through cognitive representation. Truth is a combination of all the claims of a description of the way the universe is. Lastly, justifications, according to Descartes, are founded on indubitability. As such, they were not verifiable as long a there were belief systems that were established on falsehood. To determine the absolute truth, Rene believed burning everything had to be burned to the ground and then be reestablished again. In this rebuilding process, only the facts that he thought would be part of the new structure. As per his estimations, this was the only sure way of gaining the justification of something. His critical method was rejecting any premise that had doubt established. This, he christened the skeptical plan. indubitable belief is the foundation of knowledge. Hence truth and justification are can only be installed in the absence of blind faith and prejudice in the senses. Eventually, knowledge is rooted in sense experience; the souls of other faculties could play a part in the store of belief (Descartes 5). Such include intellect and imagination.

In conclusion, he ends up with three belief systems; imagination-based, sense-based, and intelligence-based. If there were any doubts about these, then the whole premise came crashing down. I think ultimately, his project is very successful partially because his ideas continue to spread and grow. His philosophical deliberations are as relevant today as they were back then.