Descartes’ Philosophy: Key Concepts and Principles
Descartes’ Philosophy
Key Concepts and Principles
Attribute
Each attribute corresponds to a substance, representing its essence. Each substance has one attribute, e.g., the soul’s thought and the body’s extension.
Criterion of Certainty
My existence as a thinking subject is the first truth and absolute certainty. It’s indubitable because it’s clearly and distinctly perceived. Descartes’ criterion of certainty: everything perceived as clearly and distinctly as “cogito, ergo sum” is true.
God
God is the foundation of Cartesian thought. As good and true, God guarantees the truth of primary qualities, negating the evil genius hypothesis.
Deduction
Deduction involves deriving truths from axioms through successive, evident steps.
Methodical Doubt
Descartes employed methodical doubt, rejecting anything with the slightest doubt to find truth. This differs from skeptical doubt, which ends in doubt itself.
Error
Error arises from asserting as true what is unclear and confused.
Evidence
Even if I doubt, err, or am deceived, I must exist to think. Thus, “I think, therefore I am” (cogito, ergo sum).
First Truth
Absolute doubt leads to the realization: I think, therefore I am (cogito, ergo sum).
Idea
Ideas can be considered in two ways:
- Mental acts or modes of thought (all ideas are equal in this sense).
- Objective content (innate, adventitious, and factitious).
Innate Ideas
Innate ideas are present from birth, forming the basis of knowledge. Examples include the ideas of thinking (cogito) and existence (sum), found in the intuition “I think, therefore I am.”
Intuition
Intuition is a natural light that allows immediate grasp of evident truths (axioms or simple natures).
Method
Descartes’ philosophy emphasizes method. Reason (bona mens) is universal, but errors arise from lacking a proper method. A good wit isn’t enough; applying it correctly is key. Descartes’ method involves certain, easy-to-follow rules to distinguish truth from falsehood.
Profiles
Profiles are non-essential properties of the soul (thinking, imagining, feeling, doubting) and body (shape, size, movement).
Reason (bona mens)
Descartes believed everyone possesses reason, but errors stem from a lack of method. His hyperbolic (exaggerated) doubt aims to make the indubitable truth more evident.
Rule or Law
Four rules guide proper reasoning: evidence, analysis, synthesis, and enumeration.
Syllogism
Descartes sought a discovery method, modeled after mathematics (more geometrico), to expand knowledge beyond the syllogistic method.
Substance
Two types of substances exist:
- Infinite substance (God): exists in and of itself.
- Finite substances (souls and bodies): exist independently of each other but depend on God.
This leads to Cartesian dualism.
Truth
From doubt emerges the first indubitable truth: I think, therefore I am (cogito, ergo sum).
Plausible
Something seemingly true but lacking the certainty of established truth.