Descartes: 3 elements to his method of doubt
- Descartes was on a personal quest to discover the fundamental nature of the universe and human beings, to unify science
- he has no way of knowing which of his beliefs are really true
- must start afresh by subjecting his beliefs to a test of doubt
- no time to test every belief as that would be an endless task
- must go to the root, the principles upon what all opinions rest
- principles that survive the test of doubt will become the new foundation for knowledge
Descartes method —-> Certainty through the rejection of the uncertain —> use doubt explicitly and systematically as a tool to reach certainty
- 3 elements to his method: doubt, sort, reconstruct
- doubt —> reasonable and systematic —> not only is it logically possible for us to doubt but the stronger claim that it is reasonable to doubt
- sort —> doubt functions as a sorting agent —> like emptying a barrel of apples throwing out the rotten ones —> beliefs that survive the Method of doubt are worthy of being kept because they are clear and trustworthy
- reconstruct —> These doubt tested beliefs are then used to reconstruct our knowledge —> they are the secure and certain foundation for rebuilding of knowledge —> certainty through rejection of the uncertain
