PHL 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Modus Ponens, Innatism
Document Summary
Phl 201 - lecture 6 - rene descartes. An argument for the immateriality of our minds. Whatever can be doubted can"t be trusted. Sensory beliefs are uncertain and have been mistaken before. The existence of my body is uncertain. Dream argument: if it"s logically possible that i"m dreaming then i haven"t be sure that i have a body. Therefore i can"t be certain i have a body. Modus ponens! (p, q p therefore q) **important**: descarte isn"t trying to prove that life is just a dream! The principles of mathematics show that logic can be doubted (demons) If i doubt my mind then i"m thinking. If i"m thinking then there is something that thinks. Therefore if i doubt my existence there is still a thing that thinks. The thing that thinks is my mind! God created god with his mental state. Wouldn"t have an idea in their minds any other way.
