Rationalism and the Method of Doubt: Descartes’ Philosophy
Rationalism and the Search for Certainty
The rationalist’s primary goal is to establish a reliable method for thinking, acting, and reconstructing human knowledge based on mathematical principles. This method adheres to specific rules:
Rules of the Method
- Evidence: Accept only clear and distinct ideas as true, rejecting those that are doubtful or confused.
- Analysis: Reduce complex concepts into simpler, undeniable truths (intuitions).
- Synthesis: Build complex arguments and deductions from these simple
Knowledge and Ethics: Plato vs. Aristotle
Theory of Knowledge
Plato’s Rationalism
For Plato, sense knowledge was misleading, and the senses hindered access to the truth of Ideas. His rationalist theory of knowledge posited that only reason could reach truth. He believed in the Theory of Reminiscence, which states that reason knows the Ideas from birth.
Aristotle’s Empiricism
Aristotle’s theory of knowledge contrasts with Plato’s. It is an empirical theory, asserting that all knowledge begins with experience. There is no innate knowledge;
Read MoreA Comparison of Descartes, Ortega y Gasset, and Nietzsche
Comparison
Descartes vs. Ortega y Gasset
Descartes aims to achieve a certain knowledge base. The cause of pluralistic thought is not based on reason but on the method. Descartes is convinced that human reason, unique to all men, can arrive at the truth. The instrument to distinguish truth from falsehood will be reason. Descartes seeks a timeless, absolute knowledge, blind to historical events. Ortega changes this pure or utopian reason for a reason that arises from life itself: vital reason. The error
Read MoreRevolt Against Formalism and the Evolution of Legal Thought
Revolt Against Formalism
3. The Revolt
Faced with changing social circumstances during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a revolt against the formalist approach to law emerged. The Industrial Revolution not only empowered the bourgeoisie but also brought the working class to prominence, resulting in a fractured society with new problems and conflicts. The existing Civil Code, for example, addressed contracts but not employment contracts.
This period saw a resurgence of voluntarism
Read MoreThe Importance of Political Forces in a Democracy
The Role of Political Parties
Political forces are essential for a functioning democracy. Professor Huber highlights the vital role of political parties, stating that they are the “oil that lubricates the wheels of democratic machinery.” Without political parties to nominate candidates and lead discussions on important issues, public life would be significantly impoverished.
Although political parties are not the only political force, they are crucial for understanding the concept of democracy, which
Read MorePlato’s Philosophy: Soul, Knowledge, and Reality
Alma
Plato interprets the soul in two primary senses: as the enabler of vital activities, and, in humans, as the divine and immortal principle enabling knowledge and the good life. Through science and good deeds, the soul connects us to the divine and grants us an immortal destiny.
Concupiscible Soul
This mortal part of the human soul is responsible for passions, pleasures, and sensitive desires. In the “Myth of the Winged Chariot,” it’s the unruly horse, drawing the chariot towards the world of senses.
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