DESCARTES Meditation 2 Getting Re-established. Biopsychology – Meditation VI.

DESCARTES

Meditation 2

Getting Re-established

Biopsychology – Meditation VI

The Archimedean Point

more geometrico (169L)

axioms and theoremsundefined and defined terms

THE COGITO

Cogito, ergo sum: I think, therefore I am. (169L-R)

Not an argument, but an intuitive certainty or axiom.

One’s own self as only axiom

“But what then am I? A thing that thinks. But what is that? A thing that doubts, understands, is willing, is unwilling, and also imagines and has sensory perceptions” (170R)

In modern terms,

“thinking” in Descartes’ sense = consciousness

Essence of MIND (or self)

Essence of mind (self) is thought (=consciousness) (170)

To be is to think (be conscious).

Essence vs. Accidents

Anti-Aristotelian (169R)

soul = anima = principle of motion3 grades of anima: nutritive,

locomotive, rational

Philosophical Method

Q: How is essence discovered?

A: Meditate (think carefully) about what is required in order that one exists.

In case of mind/self:

If conscious, I exist.

If not conscious, I do not exist.

Essence of MATTER

Essence of MATTER (171R):

[spatial] Extension [=“geometricality”]

To be is to occupy space.

All things of same sort have same essence, and are distinguished from each other by their accidents.

Accidents (for wax): flexible, movable, sweet, white, etc.

Philosophical Method

Q: How is essence discovered?A: Meditate (think carefully) about what

is required in order that one exists.

In case of material objects:If space is occupied (other

objects are excluded), it exists.

If not, it does not exist.

Piece of wax passage

A reflection on PHILOSOPHICAL METHOD

An argument that physical objects are not constituted or defined by their sensory appearance

Piece of wax – The argument

A change is observed:

i) time 1: wax tastes sweet, smells flowery, is white, hard, cold, sounds when struck [complete list of sensory qualities] (171R)

ii) time 2: wax tasteless, odorless, colorless, soft, hot, does not sound when struck.

Piece of wax – The argument

iii) This is nevertheless the same piece of wax.

iv) SO: the wax is not known by the senses (or imagination).

v) SO: the wax is known “by the mind alone” or “pure mental scrutiny” (172L) [or “intellection’]

The argument – Other examples

a) Flexibility: you cannot see or imagine an infinity of shapes, but you do understand what flexibility is, by the mind alone (intellection).

b) You cannot really see people in street, but really see clothed figures moving, then judge that there are people in the street.