Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Discourse on the Method. New Haven

Question: Describe about the Discourse on the Method of New Haven? Answer: Discourse on the Method By Descartes; The Discourse on the method can be considered as a rational thesis that also reflects as an autobiography of the author Ren Descartes that was published in 1637. This book can be measured as one of the most significant work that exist in modern philosophy and which is essential for the development of natural sciences (Descartes, 2009). In this book, the author deals with skepticism that has been earlier studied by scholars such as Empiricus and Montaigne. The author begins his reasoning primarily by having a doubt on everything since that would give him a clear and fresh view. In Part IV of the book, Descartes had challenged his own reasons. He states that there exists three things that cannot be doubted and these three things also tend to assist each other to form a steady basis for his method. Further he states that the doubt reason cannot be doubted by the method since it is based on a reason. When he states reason he actually refers to God and states that God is primarily the guarantee that the reasons will not be misguided. In this phase of the book the most worrying part of the argument is the existence of God and the evidence of that existence. Gradually the author realizes this as he slowly provides the three different evidence of the existence of God. Descartes in the Part IV of the book understood that there was no doubt about the thoughts that persist in him. Hence he tried to find an answer to prove his existence. In order to do so, he had decided to dedicate his life in the search of truth. His pretence was on the fact that whatever has ever entered the mind of this person was true to the extent of his dreams and illusions (Descartes, 2012). Descartes believed that the all questions that exist actually either have a mathematical answer or a scientific answer. While searching for answers had used those principles that were already well known and in return had set out to create specific knowledge and truth (Descartes, n.d.). One of the surprises lies in the evidence of his existence and the proof regarding the same. In this book, Descartes proves that God and soul exists. While the author reflected on the style of his dreams and how his senses are unreliable, he gradually becomes conscious of the manner of his thoughts and hence proves his existence. As conclusion Descartes had said that the soul is different from the body and is depends on the unreliability of the senses when compared to that of pure reason (Descartes et al., 1996). The doubts that existed in him prevented him to believe on his perfectness and still his capability to visualize perfection indicated that something that is perfect should exist outside him which is God. Hence according to me the surprise ending is the realization of the perfectness of God which he was made to observe. The surprise lies when Descartes states that god is perfect and his ideas are given by God and his dependence was because of his perfectness for existence. References Descartes, R. (2009).A discourse on the method of rightly conducting one's reason and seeking truth in the sciences. [Waiheke Island]: Floating Press. Descartes, R. (2012).Discourse on the Method. Lanham: Start Publishing LLC. Descartes, R., Weissman, D., Bluhm, W., Descartes, R. (1996).Discourse on the method. New Haven: Yale University Press. Descartes, R.Discourse on the method of rightly conducting the reason, and seeking truth in the sciences. Raleigh, N.C.: Alex Catalogue.

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