Class Synopsis, March 2

In class we went from rationalism (via reason) to empiricism (via senses). First, we did a review of Descartes methodological doubt. Methodological doubt is the rejection of any ideas that can be doubted, in order to arrive at a firm foundation for genuine knowledge. Descartes does this to support Newtonian physics and arrives at I think, therefore I am a thinking thing. We used the example of a baby not being concerned with its existence until the baby begins to think and question its existence. Once concerned with existence than the baby can prove its existence. Once you know you are thinking than you know you exist and only you can know you exist. We discussed dualism between mind/body and reason; the wax example. Wax may take different forms, so senses do not give the idea of wax only reason. Also, we discussed the ontological proof of the existence of God and the concept of benevolent God which allows us to trust perception and reason. We concluded Descartes review with reason allowing us to have knowledge of the external world.

Next we discussed Hume, a scottish philosopher, who was a empiricist. He rejected newtonian physics and lost faith at an early age. Hume felt desire, not reason, governs human behavior and all activity began with desire or want. Everything is at the service of our passion and there is no innate knowledge, all knowledge gained is by experience. The problem of induction is going from particular to general. It is assuming there is a pattern in the behavior of objects and assuming it does not change. A example of induction we discussed in class was the sun came up today, the sun came up yesterday, thus the sun will come up tomorrow. Assuming that what is the same now will be the same in the future. Deduction is going from general principles to particular conclusion. For example, if you have a cough than you are sick.

We talked about the uniformity of nature and how it cannot be demonstrated because things can change. Because we associate A and B together, we constantly conjoin them which is a mental habit. Hume also felt the self is not separate from experience. He had an anti-rationalist view. Hume criticized the design argument and felt it is an incomplete analogy. Lastly, we discussed Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. In this Hume questioned what philosophy is and came to the conclusion that moral and natural philosophy should be combined. Moral is active philosophy, forming manner and making good people. Natural is light of reason and to form understanding rather than manners. It is questioning moral philosophy. Hume believed in order to be a good moral philosopher you must also be a good natural philosopher. Also, in order to be a good philosopher you have to relate thoughts with deeds.