Introduction to Philosophy


Study Questions for Descartes

  1. Explain the Foundationalist view of knowledge.
  2. What is the goal of the Meditations? How does Descartes propose, in the First Meditation, to accomplish this goal?
  3. Does Descartes show that all of his beliefs are false? Why or why not?
  4. Explain the three skeptical arguments in the First Meditation. State the arguments and explain what each is supposed to show. Why does Descartes present these three arguments?
  5. What is the one belief that escapes the skepticism of the First Meditation? Does Descartes prove this belief? If so, how? If not, why doesn't he?
  6. What Descartes say that he is in the Second Meditation? Explain what this thing is. How does he arrive at this conclusion?
  7. How can Descartes claim that he is certain he has senses when he has doubted sensations already?
  8. What does Descartes deny that he is in the Second Meditation? Explain what this is? How does he arrive at this conclusion?
  9. What is the mark of truth, according to Descartes? How does he discover this mark?
  10. Explain the three sources for ideas that Descartes discusses. Of which source is Descartes' idea of God? How does Descartes use this idea to prove the existence of God? Is this argument successful? Why or why not? (Consider any objections that we discussed in class and discuss them.)
  11. Descartes inquires about his own origins. This inquiry leads him to another proof for the existence of God. What is this proof?
  12. Why is proving the existence of God so important to Descartes' project in the Mediations?
  13. Explain the problem of evil. How is this problem connected with Descartes' project?
  14. Explain the source of error according to Descartes. What guiding principle does Descartes believe we should live by, given that this is the source of error?
  15. Explain why Descartes believes that God did not make it such that we never fall into error. Does Descartes believe that this means we are doomed to fall into error? Why or why not?
  16. How does Descartes prove that his ideas of material objects must have some reality to them, even if they don't exist in the world?
  17. State and explain Descartes' proof for the existence of God in the Fifth Meditation (this proof starts with Descartes clear and distinct idea that God exists). Why can't we use this argument to prove that unicorns exist? (Say how this proof would go and why it doesn't work in this case, but is supposed to in God's.)
  18. Why is Descartes so sure that material bodies can exist?
  19. Explain the difference between the imagination and the intellect? Why does the presence of the imagination suggest the existence of material bodies?
  20. State and explain the argument that material bodies exist. Does this argument show that bodies exist exactly as I perceive them? Why or why not?
  21. In the Sixth Meditation, Descartes says that he has a body. How does he know this? Does this mean that his claims about what he is in the Second Meditation were wrong? Why or why not? Is his body essential to his existence? Why or why not?
  22. Why does a sick man still desire food and drink? Descartes seems to think that this error is different from the error discussed in the Fourth Meditation, so how is this error explained?
  23. How does Descartes do away with the skepticism concerning the senses? Concerning the evil deceiver? Concerning dreams? Do you think these rejections are successful? Why or why not?

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Last updated: June 6, 2001
URL:http://web.mnstate.edu/mouch/101/desrev.html