Descartes First Meditation paper and Moore's Certainty paper - Essay Example

?Descartes "First Meditation" paper and Moore's "Certainty" paper. Introduction Descartes and Moore,in their work are dealing with the philosophical issue about the determination of certainty. Since this is not sufficient, there should be clarity about when logic and senses are applicable in testing the certainty of something. The paper will outline Descartes dream argument and Moore’s certainty argument as a response to Descartes idea of the reality of the world. Discussion Descartes work was centered on the issues that challenge one’s ability to be certain about something. His path to establish certainty begins a state of doubt. It is this doubt that prompts him to choose to demolish all the knowledge he had in the past (Descartes 87). He will then start afresh through testing the validity of things before being certain of their existence. He searches to establish a foundation of philosophy that cannot be shaken. This is because much of the knowledge he obtained in the past was through senses that at times are deceptive. In this he highlights, it is somehow difficult to distinguish when one is asleep and when awake. He majors on meditation, which is regarded as a philosophical classic. However, he provocatively pursues the issues to do with these important matters. Provocatively, Moore challenges the argument concerning ones inability to know whether he is dreaming. In the logical inversion of Descartes argument, Moore argues that, if one knows not that he is dreaming, one knows not that he standing. Additionally, people is unsure of his standing and realize that he is not hallucinating, (Moore 30). This is logical since one can only dream when asleep. Additionally, one can be dreaming or think he is standing and in actual sense, he is standing. This is the only case where dreaming and thinking to standing and standing at the same time is consistent. Moore’s concern on external world’s existence is evident. Given the reality, it is impractical to prove its existence. According to him, so many oppositions can, be used to prove the existence of the external world. In his illustration to demonstrate the fact about the existence of the world, he uses his hands. For instance, when he holds up his hands, it is certain that he is holding up his hands. The conclusion from the above illustration shows it is true that he has hands. If it has truth in it, more illustrations are also true. About external world issue, similar proofs can be used to tell the existence of it (Kim and Sosa 30). While Descartes says that dreams have taken place, he not sure he is dreaming. This is to mean that he does not know that the dreaming has taken place. In evaluating Descartes ides, “doubt” and “thinking” brings inconsistency the ideas. Descartes is unsure of his existence, although he thinks he does. The reason validating his doubt is that he may be dreaming or is being deceived by a demon that he exists. The reason for him to think he exists is that he is only thinking without any objective proof of his existence. The proof about his existence is only subjective. He is unable to convince others of his existence, (Moore 34). Descartes argument has weaknesses and strengthens. He says that all things he knew as truth in his childhood have been falsehoods. This is a weak argument because; lack of proof cannot guarantee one to assume it is false. He later justifies his attempt to ruin that entire truth he had known over years and started afresh. He wanted something that had a strong foundation that did not rest on mere assumptions and feelings (Descartes 87). This is quite right to be passionate to do away with former opinions unless tested to be true. Additionally, he says not all the ideas and information he has is false. He makes an excuse that, for the opinions that he is not certain with, he will not touch on them. This gives a loophole for doubt and uncertainty. To assess which opinions are not certain would be a tedious job; therefore, he will not go through each opinion all individually. This leads to lack of strong basis for his philosophy. He opts to concentrate fully on basic principles. He finally concludes that, reasonably, all disciplines that deal with the composite things are doubtful. For example- medicine and other scientific related disciplines. On the other hand, arithmetic and geometry have some certainty although they deal with generalized and simple things. He however says that the opinion, despite being uncertain, they should be believed rather than being denied. This protects his strong decision remain unmoved. He will remain to hold that no former opinions are true and actual. However, the limitation to this argument about dreaming is that some facts are learned through rational reasoning rather than through the body senses. Moore is aware that his argument will not make the philosophers convinced about the existence of the external world. They expect to get more than that illustration. In response, he firmly confesses that he will not give more ‘argument. To proof that he held his hands up would be the same as proofing that he is not dreaming (Moore 31). The fact is that, he can lift his hands up without proving that he is actually doing it. Philosophers cannot dispute Moore’s opinion. However, his proof is not conclusive because he cannot proof that he is lifting hands. In their opinion, the best option to know something is the ability to prove its existence, but Moore rejects this idea. Many people have concluded that, if you cannot prove something, you can only accept it through faith. Moore adds that you can know something, even if you cannot prove it. Therefore, their disagreement to the argument is inapplicable. Conclusion From the dream argument by Descartes and Moore’s reaction to the dream argument, I am convinced that it is possible to prove the existence of the external world. In fact, ones conclusion that something exists, may not be based on knowledge, therefore, it can be challenged. However, more knowledge is required to be fully sure that something exists. For instance, it is not sufficient to say I am standing. However, if I actually feel am standing, then I am certain that am actually standing. The opinion must be consistent with the knowledge, otherwise one will only believe that something may exist or may not. Descartes, should show some confidence and certainty in his argument because as Moore argues, if one is standing he knows he is actually standing and that cannot be a dream since he is sure of it. This generalization can be challenged and is prone to objection because not all views can be proven. In such scenario, certainty can only be subjective, where I know that I am dreaming and not asleep at the same time. I cannot convince anybody about my dreaming state. Therefore, about the existence of the external world, it exists, though it may be impossible to prove its existence. Work cited Descartes, Rene. "Meditations on First Philosophy: First Meditation." Trans. Array Exploring philosophy: an introductory anthology. Steven M. Cahn. 4. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2011. 87-90. Print. J. kim and E Sosa, Epistemology: An Anthology. Massachusetts: Blackwell; 2000. pp. 29-32. Print. Read More