GCE EXTRACTS UNDER MEDITATION ON FIRST PHILOSOPHY

 

EXTRACT ONE

     My reason tells me that as well as witholding assent from propositions that are obviously false, I should also withholding it from one that are not completely certain and indubitable. So all i need, for the purpose of rejecting all my opinions, is to find in each of them at least some reason for doubt. I can do thiss going through them one by one, which would take forever: once the foundations of a building have been undermined, the rest collapses of itys own accord; so I will go straight for this basic principles on which all my former beliefs rested.

    Whatever i have accepted until now as most true has come to me through my senses. But occasionally i have found that they have deceived me, and it is unwise to trust completely those who have deceived us even once.

QUESTIONS

a. Bring out the theme and the logical articulations of the passage.
b. Explain the following concepts and expressions as used in the passage.

i. "Basic principles"

ii. "My reason tells me that... I shall also withhold assent from proposkitions that are obviously false"

c. What is Descartes' point of view viz-a-viz the conception that the senses are the sources of evidence.

d. State and explain the principles of the method Descartes uses in search for certainty.

e. Why is descartes an unfaithful student of scholasticism under which he studied?

f. What is the impact of the central theme to our contemporary society.

EXTRACT TWO

   To doubt such things i would have to liken my self to brain-damage mad men who are convinced the are kings when really they are paupers, or say they are dressed in purple when they are naked, or that they are pumpkins or made of glass. such people are insane, and I would be thought equally mad if i modelled my self on them.

   What a brilliant piece of reasoning ! As if I were not a man who sleeps at night and often has all the same experiences while asleep as madmen do when awake - indeed some times even more imporobable ones. Often in my dreams I am convinced of just such familiar events - that i am sitting by the fire in my dressing-gown - when in fact I am lying undressed in bed! yet right now my eyes are certainly wide open when i look at this piece of paper; I shake my head and it is'nt asleep; whenI rub one hand against the other, I do it deliberately and know what I am doing. This wouldn't happen with such clarity to some one asleep.

    ANSWERS

a. Bring out the theme and the logical articulations of this passage.

b. Explain the following concepts and expressions as used in the passage.

- "Insane"

- "Familiar events"

- "Clarity"

- "A brilliant piece of reasoning"

c. What method of reasoning has Descartes employed in the text?

d. What is most acceptable source of knowledge to the author?

e. Can the Cartesian metaphysics be considered as form of idealism?

f. What is the impact of the central theme to our contemporary society?