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Essay on Rene Descartes-2
Descartes said that it would be necessary to eliminate all of one's earlier education by rejecting all the beliefs and authorities one accepted from youth if one wishes to arrive at truth. In this way the individual eliminates all the errors and prejudices he has amassed since childhood. Everything is considered doubtful. There is no difference between philosophy and correct thinking. Nothing is to be accepted as truth that is not clearly and distinctly perceived as such by the mind. In arriving at this truth it is imperative that the individual avoid hasty generalizations and conclusions accepted upon the basis of prejudice. Instead, he must proceed carefully from the simple, concrete, known objects to the more abstract. In this orderly thinking process the mind progresses towards the truth. Every conclusion that has been reached must be carefully reviewed in order to leave out no important factor. The starting point of philosophical thought is from within the mind. (Smith, Steven B.)
Descartes proceeds from the first principle derived from mental reality to demonstrate his existence. "I think, therefore I must exist." He does not state this as a syllogism, but as a self-evident, intuited truth. He thus anticipated the scholastic accusation of circular reasoning. In response to
The skepticism of Montaigne, Descartes replies, "Who can doubt that he exists?" Since I exist as a thinking being capable of doubting, I possess the idea of perfection in that my mind strives for perfect truth. I doubt only because I search for perfect truth. This idea of perfection is not found within my mind. It is an effect of a perfect creator, God. Because God is Perfect, it follows that he cannot deceive. Therefore, rational knowledge of truth can be attained. Reasoning in an "a priori" manner, Descartes demonstrates the existence of God from the mental idea he has of a perfect being.....
