PHI 2010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Copernican Revolution
Document Summary
Descartes believed in rationalism knowledge through reason. The dream argument: we don"t know the difference between dreams and reality. Cojito - i think, therefore i am: proves that i exist. If there is an evil demon deceiving you, then you exist. The demon argument: there is a demon somewhere. Descartes argument that sensations are cause by physical things: 1. Is implausible because those ideas are frequently produced in my mind without my contributing to it in any way, and even frequently contrary to my will: 2. Is implausible, because the senses can deceive, and. So, 3 is the most reasonable explanation, hence, there is a physical world. Innate ideas: born with our own knowledge (cid:1) Locke- realist: there has to be a physical object before a thought, can see shapes and forms. An idea is good, if it resembles the cause of the idea. Primary qualities- measurement/fact: what locke says exists.
