PHILOS 21 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Evil Demon, Rationality, Cartesian Doubt
Document Summary
If his current beliefs have any elements of falsehood he will destroy them and the foundation of everything he knows to start all over. He presents several arguments such as the argument from illusion, the dream. Argument, and the evil demon conceit to analyze his beliefs on skepticism: descartes" supposed aim in these meditations are to demolish his opinions and call into question everything that he knows (para. Instead for the purpose of rejecting all [his] opinions he needs only to nd in each of them at least some reason for doubt . Will not analyze each individual belief but instead attack the basic principles of belief to crack the foundations: if the foundations are undermined, then the edi ce will collapse, argument from illusion (para. Whatever descartes has accepted as true has come through his senses: but his senses have deceived him on occasion > unwise to trust completely those who have deceived us even once .
