Question

The philosopher Descartes implies that we can’t ever really know for certain. Now the question I have for you is this: Is Descartes an idiot just asking stupid questions? Or is he possibly on to something? Provide your answer in the following format: Paragraph 1 – Introduction (give the outline of your essay) Paragraph 2 – Summarize rationalism (hint: see pp. 214-215) Paragraph 3 – Summarize Descartes on doubt Paragraph 4 – Tell me if you think Descartes is an idiot or not. If so, why? If not, why? Paragraph 5 - Conclusion (summarize your essay)

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) The purpose of this essay is to affirm or discredit a particular statement made by Rene Descartes. The statement he made entails that, “we can’t ever really know for certain.” This means that everything that human beings know for certain so far, is incomplete knowledge and uncertain ideas. No matter how sure or how right human beings are about anything, they can never be entirely certain about it, despite plausible rationale or proof.

In order “know for certain” it is essential that all the variables are considered. For instance, one can know that earth is the only planet that supports life. However, in order to know for certain, it would be essential to travel through the entire universe and check for life in every part of the infinite universe in order to know for certain that the earth is the only planet that supports life.

Descartes has these uncertainties because, in order to be absolutely certain, one must consider every variable and alternative in the universe in order to test a theory in order to prove it. The more variables that are unknown, the more doubt that surrounds the hypothesis.

Descartes was certainly not an idiot and was simply thinking like a philosophical researcher. A researcher who hasn’t tested their hypothesis under different conditions, variables, alternatives and had post-testing, would have a research that is flawed. The best research is one that has the hypothesis tested and tried severely in order to have a firm conclusion. If the conclusion isn't firm through tempering, the hypothesis is uncertain. That is why, since human beings do not have the capability to test every variable available since the beginning of time and across the entire universe, it is impossible to be certain about anything.