Descartes’ Method: Seeking Truth Through Doubt
Descartes’ Method: Finding Truth
Descartes sought a method to distinguish truth from falsehood, inspired by the certainty of mathematics. He aimed to build a solid philosophical foundation through deduction.
Methodical Doubt
Descartes began by questioning all apparent knowledge, employing a methodical doubt. This was not skepticism, but a tool to find truth.
Reasons for Doubt
- Senses: They can deceive us.
- External World: Dreams can mimic reality.
- Reasoning: Our understanding can be flawed.
Rules of the Method
- Evidence: Accept only what is clear and distinct.
- Analysis: Break down complex ideas into simpler ones.
- Synthesis: Rebuild from simple to complex.
- Enumeration: Review to ensure nothing is missed.
The Cogito: The Indubitable Truth
Through doubt, Descartes arrived at the cogito ergo sum: “I think, therefore I am.” This is the foundation for his philosophy.
Analysis of Ideas
Descartes classified ideas into three groups:
- Adventitious: From external experience.
- Factitious: From imagination.
- Innate: Inherent in the understanding.
Divine Illumination
To overcome human limitations, Descartes believed divine help is needed to grasp eternal truths. Truth resides within, and God illuminates it.
Levels of Knowledge
- Aversion to the sensible world.
- Discovery of eternal ideas.
- Union with God.
Freedom and Divine Grace
Only those who strive for good will be illuminated and find true happiness. God deposits truths in the human mind, like the Platonic sun illuminating the world.
Faith and Reason
For Descartes, faith and reason are in harmony. Reason serves faith, and faith illuminates reason. This leads to the proof of God’s existence.