PHI 3300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Unmoved Mover, Adventitiousness, Counterpoint

• School: University of Florida
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHI 3300
• Professor: Liu Chuang

Document Summary

For a firm scientifical foundation, truth must be absolutely certain. Descartes rejects all beliefs where there is a slight possibility of doubts and whatever is left will be considered absolutely certain. Beliefs are based on the foundation belief: my senses tell me the truth. This belief is not absolutely certain and raises doubt and possibilities: it is possible that senses are illusions created by a powerful being, God/evil deceiver etc. , from this slight doubts no other beliefs on this foundation can be considered absolutely truthful: it is possible that at any time he can be dreaming. Concludes we can doubt composite things: medicine, physics, astronomy. We cannot doubt simple and universal parts, shape quantity, size, time, arithmetic, geometry studies: further reasons simple things can be doubted if our omnipotent god deceived us. Argue god is essentially the good of all goods and would not lead us falsely. If no god, could be a higher power deceiving us.