Descartes Discourse on the Method
Autor: Kathleen Juarbe-Gorgas • December 2, 2015 • Term Paper • 395 Words (2 Pages) • 796 Views
Running head: DESCARTES DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD
Assignment 1:
Descartes Discourse on the Method
Humanities 112
May 3rd, 2015
Descartes’ Discourse on the Method
The surprise ending in Descartes’ Discourse on the Method is how our intellectual nature can get us closer to perfection. Descartes goes on to show the example between God and humans as a dependable relationship. He also explains how the discovery and understanding of God will help humans find the truth.
Throughout Descartes’ “Discourse on the Methods,” there were multiple elements that surprised me. First, Descartes discusses how the rejection of beliefs can assist humans in further discovering the truth stating that nothing is as we as humans imagine because our senses can confuse us. The rejection of beliefs will also apply because humans make mistakes which opens the door of losing faith. The conclusion here is that the truth of a human’s mental state is an illusion of the dreams. Another example in the discourse that surprised me was that after Descartes states the rejection of beliefs, he comes to the conclusion that “I am thinking, therefore I exist.” This can represent the scientific point-of-view of this concept. In the explanation of this phrase, he describes how the soul and the body are two varying objects. The soul can help find the truth because of its intellectual nature which will always exist. This is in contrast of using the body which remains in the physical nature.
Next, Descartes begins to describe perfection. He tries to understand how humans can possess elements of perfection. His logical argument is that there must be a higher power that is perfect. This higher power would be God. Though humans are will never be completely perfect, they harbor elements of perfection which come from God.
After the analysis of these elements, I was convinced how the truth that he was looking for based in beliefs which are abstract and from a spiritual point-of-view. My expectation was that he would find truth in a less abstract view from a scientific point-of-view where humans can use their bodily nature to understand instead of their intellectual nature.
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