In his meditation, Descartes first admits that there are many opinions that he assumed to be true during his youth. Though he realized that the opinions were false, Descartes postponed meditation on these issues. He, however, believed that at the time of writing this meditation, his mind was free enough to delve into the destruction of these false opinions of the youth. This paper seeks to describe the beliefs that Descartes undermined. In doing so, the paper will critically describe the manner in which Descartes attacks those beliefs. Moreover, the paper will highlight the doubts that Descartes creates so as to undermine his beliefs. The fist belief that Descartes seeks to undermine is that of believing in senses and dreams. According to Descartes, most of the opinions that he has are arrived at through the senses. People have different sences that they make use of whenever they have to make any form of decision. The senses according to him are faulty, meaning that that the resulting opinions are also false. Descartes offers the example of a dream and the perceptions he has whenever he is asleep. Descartes points out that the sensations he has when dreaming are similar to the perceptions he has when awake. Descartes argues that doubting this would seem to be mad, but justifies it by a statement in page 105. In page 105, Descartes states,“this would all be well and good, were I not a man who is accustomed to sleeping at night and experiencing in my dreams the very same things as these insane people do when they are awake.” (Descartes 105). The statement simply implies that just like people who day dream during the day, Dscartes also dreams whenever he is sleeping. Descartes, therefore, argues that no definite evidence can be pointed at to distinguish the experience he has when dreaming to that he has when awake. It is possible that their perceptions experienced are false, meaning that he is dreaming. In this case, the limbs that a person perceives to have may be false. Descartes, however, goes on to argue that despite the doubt to perception that people should have, the images seen from the dreams are built from pieces of real life. Descartes borrows the example of a painter. Descartes, therefore, points to the importance of doubting the qualities of our perception. He argues that people have to think deeply about their perceptions. Additionally, Descartes says that some basic properties or components of our existence cannot be in doubt. The other belief that Descartes attacks is the belief in God. The most common opinion is that God is all powerful and good. Descartes, therefore, questions whether the same God created the people to make them prone to be deceived on various issues. If God is all powerful, he may have made us be deceived in fundamental matters such as mathematical knowledge. As pointed out in the statement on page 106. In page 106,Descartes states that God is said to be very supremely and does not want him to be deceived in any way. Accordingly, God wants the best for his people and would not like to see them suffer through deception. Descartes offers two perspectives in conceptualizing this issue. The first one touches on the perfectly good God, who would not deceive us. The other one touches on the line of thought that the Supreme God does not exist. In the first case, Descartes argues that if God is that good, he will not allow us to be deceived. In the case where no God exists, it gives more reason to doubt all the beliefs that we have and assume to be true. In the same argument, Descartes offers another option in conceptualizing the source of our deception. In this argument, Desacartes refutes the possibility of God being the deceiver. Descartes does this by stating that God is not only a supremely powerful and clever being but also an evil genius who seeks to deceive him (Descartes 107). This fact, according to Descartes is the strong reason behind him doubting the senses and perceived knowledge. In conclusion, Descartes doubts his perceptions, dreams as well as God’s will in regards to the deception of the people he created.
Works Cited
Descartes, Rene. "Meditations on First Philosophy." n.d.
