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To doubt and refute all knowledge that is assumed to be true about the
in my mind's eye. I was exposed/confronted with this idea that "until claims
had would not suffice. The first day of philosophy 101 is upsetting to such
young thinkers of today because this idea of skepticism turned their world
upside-down. This idea was folly to me at first because if I cannot know truth,
how am I to know anything at all? Being called out and dropped to the
bottom rung of the very foundation of my belief was rotten. Taking a step
back and breaking it down "Barney style" (as the USMC would put it) is the
only way I can began to speculate such a theory, trying not to take a bias
Epistemology meaning:
warrant. Epistemology addresses such questions as, what is the origin and
Descartes and David Hume. Throughout this paper I hope to inform readers
was little doubt in some thinking that he "would set out to prove such a
creator" existed (Hicks, 41). Descartes understood that many of his beliefs
once assumed true - from his youth - were in fact, not (Giesler, Fienburg, 92).
(in his second Mediation) he comes to the conclusion that he does in fact
exist, "the mere fact that he was having doubts and, therefore, thinking
meant that he must exist" (Brown, 51). Thus the much revered Latin term
metaphysical being have had refuted the physical world, e.g. the body (in
Dualism defined
The mind/body problem focuses on two main issues. First, is a human being
two, how do these two relate to one another? Physicalism is one solution to
the problem. As a general world view, physicalism holds that the only thing
human being is just a physical system. There is no mind or soul, just brain
asserts that in addition to the body , a human being also has a nonphysical
One popular western thinker that more than likely would be a physicalist and
rejection of the duality of human nature and God makes for a better
truth. "Hume's personal rejection of Christianity made him less willing to give
ground over his skepticism about God and miracles" (Hicks, 293).
knowledge and holds that all knowledge derives from experience... John
Locke claimed that our minds are blank slates that can only be written on by
Introduction to Philosophy GIORDANO-4
In this empirical take on the origin of knowledge Hume would say that all
inquire about knowledge being "divided into two kinds... relations of ideas
and matters of fact" (Abel, 153). Two very contrasting views explaining
sources of knowledge, i.e. how they are obtained and what can be
millions of years, is it not plausible that we are being fed artificial projections
that our brain feeds us false senses so that we may be the fittest and
survive? In other words, our end result is survival and not truth.
an external world when, in fact, no such world exists. Perhaps some scientist
has put our brains in a vat in a laboratory and is stimulating them in such a
At first glance such thinking is attractive, and this Coming from a fan of the
say it is true or not, is the Matrix not plausible? Coming from someone like
Hume, who does not believe in a metaphysical being there is a great counter
argument if there is only the physical world that exists. In order to doubt
there in turn must be a doubter and (i.e. we must exist somehow) and if
then to suggest it is all artificial rather, and that instead all my senses are
Craig gives a brief explanation on page 102 as well as other responses to the
skeptic:
Nick Bostrom is one of the few philosophers that argues such a belief.
possible, then it is far more likely that we are simulations living within
Craig, 22).
In the end it is one thinking mind trying to convince another thinking mind it
really know there are other thinking minds, is it not possible I am alone in
this computer program? Once again with all these theories, to settle with one
Introduction to Philosophy GIORDANO-6
you would have to assume all others are false. Bostrom attempts to back his
argument making the point that artificial intelligence shows it's plausible. I
Rene Descartes would refute Bostram's ideas not only because of his
Descartes goes on to explain, after he establishes God exists (in his second
Mediations), that if such a God exists he would not deceive us or our senses.
He would be just and fair not to mention truth and good, so everything I
conceive may be taken as true. Descartes' logic and methods are very
ideas and our thoughts are outside of the physical world, thus, dualism.
Descartes wax experiment - the wax is wax no matter it's properties. John
Locke, another popular empiricist would disagree: "he argued that all our
ideas are derived from the senses" (Scruton, 29). Locke would refute such
ideas on the basis that "(1) there is no good deductive argument establishing
*
A good systematic logical breakdown of this is given by philosopher Peter Hicks (see Hicks) on pages 243-44 of his
book, The Journey So Far.
Introduction to Philosophy GIORDANO-7
the existence of such entities, (2) children & idiots do not seem to posses
them" (Pojman, 149). I disagree but that does not mean it's not possible.
thought to be more logical. Locke and Hume's empiricism suggested that all
continues on to proof of his own existence, cogito ergo sum, and God's
doubt such an elaborate thought though! The best summary and conclusion I
read yet is in Robert Booth's book Always Ready. A portion I like from this
text says,
Men only succeed in deluding themselves when they say that they will not
hypocrites—men who cannot and do not live by their own declared standards
As far as my conclusion? I would agree with Descartes for the most part!
Introduction to Philosophy GIORDANO-8
Works Cited/Consulted
Abel, Donald C. Fifty Readings in Philosophy. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1994. Print.
1996. Print.
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. Boston, Mass. [u.a.:
Bahnsen, Greg L., and Robert R. Booth. Always Ready: Directions for Defending the
Brown, Colin. Philosophy & the Christian Faith: A Historical Sketch from the Middle
Ages to the Present Day. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1968. Print.
Clark, Kelly James, and Richard Lints. 101 Key Terms in Philosophy and Their
Importance for Theology. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2004. Print.
Copan, Paul, and William Lane. Craig. Contending with Christianity's Critics:
Answering New Atheists & Other Objectors. Nashville: B & H Academic, 2009.
Print.
Geisler, Norman L., and Paul K. Hoffman. "Why I Believe God Exists." Why I Am a
Christian: Leading Thinkers Explain Why They Believe. Grand Rapids, MI:
SCRIBD, 2008. N. pag. Scribd. [No Pub], 16 July 2010. Web. 27 Mar. 2011.
<http://www.scribd.com/doc/34407776/Introduction-Technology-Junkies>.
Hicks, Peter. The Journey So Far: Philosophy Through the Ages. Grand Rapids, MI:
Kreeft, Peter. The Journey: A Spiritual Roadmap for Modern Pilgrims. Downers
Moreland, James Porter, and William Lane. Craig. Philosophical Foundations for a
Moreland, James Porter. Scaling the Secular City: A Defense of Christianity. Grand
Pojman, Louis P. Philosophy: The Quest for Truth. New York: Oxford UP, 2002. Print.
Scruton, Roger. Modern Philosophy: An Introduction and Survey. New York: Penguin,
1996. Print.
<http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/meditations/section5.rhtml>.