Plato and Descartes. In the works we studied by Plato (Apology, The Idea of the Good, and On the Shadows and Realities in Education) and Descartes (Meditations on the First Philosophy), both philosophers argue that we consist of a mind, or soul, which is

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Serra

Rick Serra

March 6, 2012

Professor Bush

CAL 105

Plato and Descartes

        Plato and Descartes, perhaps two of the greatest philosophers ever, have many similarities in their ways of thinking and reason but also have their differences. In the works we studied by Plato (Apology, The Idea of the Good, and On the Shadows and Realities in Education) and Descartes (Meditations on the First Philosophy), both philosophers argue that we consist of a mind, or soul, which is somehow connected with the body. Although both Descartes and Plato believe that the mind or soul can exist independently from the body, Descartes' mind-body argument, and Plato's soul-body argument, are quite different.

In his third meditation Descartes comes up with the conclusion, “I am, I exist, is necessarily true each time it is expressed by me, or conceived in my mind.” He comes to this conclusion from the two points within his argument that argue God exists. The first point being that we have an idea of God and the second being that the only way to have an idea of God is if God exists. “By the word God I understand a substance that is infinite, eternal, immutable, independent, supremely intelligent, supremely powerful, and which created both myself and everything else…there is more reality in the infinite substance than in the finite on” Descartes deduces that God provided us with a mind and senses that do not deceive, inferring that we can rely on the reality our senses provide us. Descartes recognized the concept of attaining knowledge through the use of senses or perception and deduction. That reason could be the only way to achieve knowledge.

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Descartes attempts to show how we know we exist through reason and through our senses. To demonstrate this theory, he uses a piece of wax. If one places a piece of wax by a fire, over time it will change form and shape. Consequently it will lose all its specific properties, yet it is still known as wax. Descartes argues that in order to comprehend what wax is, you must be able to know it in all its forms and predict its changes. Descartes claims that the shapes and forms that the wax could take are infinite. This means, one ...

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