Wisdom According to Rene Descartes - 1240 Words

To Challenge the Course of Our Personal Knowledge â€Å"It indicates rather that the capacity to judge correctly and to distinguish the true from the false, which is properly what one calls common sense or reason, is naturally equal in all men, and consequently that the diversity of our opinions does not spring from some of us being more able to reason than others, but only from our conducting our thoughts along different lines and not examining the same thing† Rene’ Descartes pg. (1) â€Å"Discourse on Method† by Rene’ Descartes Wisdom, according to Rene’ Descartes, can be reached when an individual abandons all other influence and challenges the course of their own personal knowledge by seeking supreme understanding. He believed that†¦show more content†¦Philosophy as defined by Webster is the critical study of the basic principles and concepts of a particular branch of knowledge, especially with a view to improving or reconstituting them. Descartes defines philosophy as, â€Å"the means by which one can speak plausibly on all matters and win the admiration of the less learned.† (Descartes, pg. 30), but isn’t he in turn proving himself to be a philosopher by writing â€Å"Discourse on Method†? The only thing that makes him different from the philosophers that came before him, is that he refuses to accept anybody else’s influence, but by writing a book and publishing it, he in turn expects others to accept his influence. This is where the contradiction arises. I believe that it’s understandable to desire to only believe one’s own interpretations, but when we discuss our logic with others, that’s how we get better. I’m not saying to let them to fully convince you of their thoughts, but when we argue it forces us to challenge our own individual minds. I believe in discovering things for one ’s self, but that doesn’t mean that you should abandon the guidance of others before you. If not, then the teachings of Rene’ Descartes would be lost and would have never made a lasting effect on me personally. At the end of the day I feel like by respecting his method, I am doing him injustice and by reading and trying to understand his written word, I am in hand doing what he is teaching me not to do. I wonder whyShow MoreRelatedDescartes s Theory Of Love885 Words   |  4 PagesRene Descartes had one ultimate goal, which was to discover the absolu te foundation of truth and philosophy, which includes love. Descartes had detected many false beliefs that he, as a youth, believed to be true. It was at this point that he decided to rid himself of all of his previous opinions and knowledge that he had accepted to be truths, based on the fact that he could find doubt in them. He then concluded that if you construct something on false beliefs then everything becomes doubtfulRead MoreOn The Shortness Of Life And Rene Descartes Analysis1294 Words   |  6 Pagescomplex subject, can quite simply be construed as a quest to gain wisdom and the truth through profound analysis. In an attempt to gain this wisdom and insight, numerous philosophers have taken contrasting approaches that have led them to different conclusions about what is true. Seneca, the author of On the Shortness of Life, and Rene Descartes, the author of A Discourse on the Method, are two philosophers who have sought wisdom and shared the methods they believe to be su ccessful in achieving anRead MoreDescartes : Who Are You?1051 Words   |  5 Pages The Brains SOCRATES: Where am I? Am I finally in heavenly realm? DESCARTES: Who are you? And where are we? SOCRATES: I am Socrates. The last thing I remember is taking hemlock and dying. DESCARTES: Are you for real? I must be dreaming†¦ On a shelf in the lab, lies two vats of formaldehyde, one containing the brain of Socrates, and the other containing the brain of Rene Descartes. The two brains are wired up to each other so that they can communicate with each other about their current situationRead MoreThe Enlightenment Period : The Age Of Reason1332 Words   |  6 Pagespoint. Major evolution took place in physics, chemistry, biology and astronomy. These advancements forever changed the importance nature played in life. Other key individuals of the Scientific Revolution included Galileo Galilei, John Comenius, Rene Descartes, Francis Bacon and Johannes Kepler. Once again, the Scientific Revolution was all about thinking and reasoning. Newton’s research and discoveries laid a foundation for modern science and its appreciation. Society’s increasing consciousness andRead MoreThe Allegory Of The Cave By Plato And Rene Descartes1241 Words   |  5 Pagesknowledge, or conduct. This, while providing a cont extual definition of the word philosophy, just scratches the surface of its actual meaning. In this essay we will attempt to answer â€Å"What is Philosophy?† by discussing the works of Plato and Rene Descartes. First, we begin by summarizing and comparing the theme of their works for similarities so as to better form a definition. In order to begin answering the question, â€Å"What is Philosophy?† we must comprehend each author’s method, themes, and goalsRead MoreThe Influence of Rationalism on the French Revolution1509 Words   |  7 Pagesethics and metaphysics. The first modern rationalist philosopher was Rene Descartes (1596-1650).The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy states that: â€Å"Descartes is known as the father of modern philosophy precisely because he initiated the so-called epistemological turn that is with us still.† Descartes interest in philosophy stemmed from a fascination with the question of whether humans could know anything for certain. Descartes desired to create a philosophy that was as solid as say the conceptsRead MorePsychology in Greek Philosophy, Paragraphs1403 Words   |  6 PagesParagraph 1 Many people have contributed to the filed of psychology. Three whom I believe made significant impacts are Socrates, Aristotle and Rene Descartes. In the following section, I will briefly discuss a bit about each individual, and then talk about which of the four archetypes they each fall under based on the information presented. Socrates was a classical Greek philosopher who devoted his life and work to searching for moral good, virtue, and justice. He developed a methodRead MoreRene Descartes: French Mathematician and Philosopher Essay1855 Words   |  8 PagesRene Descartes: An Author Study Rene Descartes was a 17th Century mathematician and French Philosopher whose lifes work focused on providing a new prospective on the human perception of reality. The definition of this reality is seen as Descartes greatest life goal. Coined as the Father of Modern Philosophy, (Cunningham Reich, 2010, p. 385), Descartes laid the groundwork the philosophy and reality as we perceive it today. Descartes autobiography, Discourse on the Method of Rightly ConductingRead MoreThe Matrix Is Highly Action Packed1220 Words   |  5 PagesMatrix debuted in 1999, it was an instant box office success that captivated many viewers. However throughout the featured famed actors, costumes, special effects and fight scenes, many viewers failed to notice the philosophical issues. Plato and Descartes, just like the characters in the movie are faced and driven to extreme measures to understand the world around them. They are compelled to seek knowledge in understanding what is real, evaluating the mi nd-body problem, and are left wondering if thereRead MoreThe Truth, Belief, And Justification982 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to the questions raised by the directions of this essay, the central questions in the Theory of Knowledge are usually found in the most central areas of western philosophy as one studies the nature, source, and validity of knowledge. Despite the fact that people might use the word â€Å"know† but many have difficulty grasping the concept. Although you could classify knowledge in different ways but the main concern of epistemology is a propositional knowledge which is the facts, analyzing the