Assignment #2 Skepticism: claiming of having no knowledge, for instance, Descartes rejects the idea that beliefs originate from sensory experience could serve as the foundation of knowledge. Solipsism: is the belief that “I” am the only thing that exists, things and people are just productions of my thoughts. Foundational ism: is a set of basic beliefs which do not depend upon others for others acceptance, and then one can derive other beliefs upon that. Objective Reality: rejection of any belief in external world, and the claim that a person creates their own reality. Perceptual Variation: (1) -If you accept that we are directly aware only of ideas + sensations, why believe there is also a material world (since we never directly experience it. ) (1 b) -Where do our ideas and sensations come from? (the ones we can’t control).
(2) -How does someone who does not believe in matter account for the difference between reality and illusion? How might Descartes defend his claim that he has an idea of an infinite substance? The reality of a finite substance is less than that of a substance which would be infinite. Therefore, a finite substance, doesn’t have enough reality to be the cause of an idea of an infinite one. However, one may have an attribute that they distinctly refer to an idea of an attribute which that idea would have. So if an idea of an infinite substance has an attribute of being infinite, then that idea has that attribute. In addition if one would have that idea of an infinite substance, and clearly understood that the attribute is that of which the substance is infinite. Then that idea would be an infinite one..
The Essay on Truth Ideas Which Reflect Personal Belief
J. Douglas Boyd 11/4/99 Society, Literature, and Truth Period 5 Truth: Ideas Which Reflect Personal Belief When a writer composes a piece of literature, his sole task should be to convey the truth of the subject matter he is discussing, no matter what the medium of his writing may be. A truthful idea for me is authenticated by my own, personal beliefs, but not one idea can be truthful to all. ...