Question by mz_chingy4_u: Meditation two?
1. what does descartes think that he cannot doubt based on the consideration in meditation one?
2. how does descates understand himself at a metaphysical level? that is, what is descartes’ narrator such that he cannot doubt that he himself exists?
3. what is the difference between mind and body? what is the mode of existence that is attributed to each?
4. descartes considers in detail the properties of a piece of wax. what are those properties? how do they change? what does not change about them?
5 which does descartes think we know better, mind or body?
6. what, in your opinion, is descartes really studying in meditation two?
Best answer:
Answer by Daniel P
If I remember the mediations be descartes, in part two, he develops the cogito: I think, therefore I am. His ability to think was prove of his existence, thus he exists as a thinking thing which exists. it’s been a while since I read the mediation. Go to wikipedia for a better understanding of the mediations.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
1) He cannot doubt THAT he doubts, even if he is deceived about everything, this thought is not nothing. Thus “I think, I exist”
2) Res cogitans, a thinking thing, or mind.
3) Mind is essentially a thinking substance and body, res extensa, is an extended thing in space.
4) All the properties of the wax change. Its smell color, size, shape, and physical state, differ, and yet the idea of the object remains the same as it melts.
5) We know the mind better, though God is not a deceiver, we can still be mistaken about physical objects.
6) Descartes is studying what is absolutely certain as a basis to everything else that can be known.