René Descartes Does Not Reject Sense Perception Essay -- Philosophy Re

Ren Descartes Does Not Reject Sense Perception Some pack suggested that Ren Descartes argues that grit perception relies on the psyche rather than on the body. Descartes asserts that we push aside know our opinion more readily than we can know our body. In support of this idea he gives the example of a piece of mount which is observed in its solid form and its liquid form. After pointing step up the difficulties of relying on the senses of the physical body to understand the nature of the wax he makes this claim Perception ... is neither a seeing, nor a touching, nor an imagining. ... Rather it is an inspection on the startle of the mind alone (Section 31). 1 This quote is perhaps the most forthwith statement of the authors thesis on this subject. I contend that, based upon the arguments presented in the Second Meditation, Descartes shows that we can use our senses to help us understand the dead on target nature of things, but the senses alone are inadequate to determine l aw (since they are often deceived), and that all that may be known with proof (truth) are those things we know by our judgment, thinking, and understanding of them in our minds. Descartes argument does not necessarily reject any role of the senses in the process of understanding. go of the ArgumentDescartes began his argument in the First Meditation by challenge or calling into doubt everything that he knew. After examining all the things he thought he knew about himself and the world he concluded (the exposit of that argument are beyond the scope of this essay) that the only thing he knew with absolute certainty is that I am, I exist (Section 25). Having established the fact that he has a real existence of some kind he then said But I do not and understand... ...y some shape, of being enclosed in a place, and of filling up a space in such a way as to exclude any other body from it ... followed by other features not related to extension. (Section 26) 5 Perceptio a related wo rd perceptione in I11 is translated as knowledge, or perception. In II5 vel odoratu percipi is translated as the sense of smell. In II7 percipiat is translated perceive or know. In II11 perceptiones is translated perceptions, notions, or ideas. In II12 sol mente percipere is rendered it is the mind alone which perceives it (Veitch), it is my mind alone which perceives it (Haldane), I perceive it through the mind alone (Cress). In II14 perfectius evidentiusque percipiebam is translated evident and perfect foundation (Haldane), clearer and more perfect perception (Veitch), and perceived more perfectly and obviously (Cress).