PHI 1103 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Thematic Relation, Cogito Ergo Sum, Omnipotence
18 Apr 2016
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Descartes, the mater is much more serious than it appears. There are no certain indicaions by which we clearly disinguish wakefulness from sleep. So it possible that i could be dreaming now o. I am not dreaming now and that all of my percepions are false. Dreams must be based upon something that is real that we previously perceived and thus must correspond to reality in some degree. Beliefs about mathemaical and logical relaionships cannot be doubted even when we are dreaming. The dream argument isn"t enough to undermine these beliefs. Example: even when dreaming a square sill has no more than 4 sides. If someone objects that god does not exist, then, we can assume that there is an evil being amongst us. The evil genius: the utmost power and cunning can deceive us. Thus, the whole external world may be a sham. The conclusion of meditaion i sees everything in doubt.
