As
you read the following lesson on Descartes,
use the following questions to guide you. You won’t be asked to turn in
your answers to these questions, but these questions, or questions very similar
to them, may appear on a quiz – and you will be allowed to use your notes,
including your answers to these questions, on the quiz.
1.
Did Descartes think that some beliefs are justified even though they can’t be
supported by a good argument. In other words, was Descartes a foundationalist?
2. What was Descartes’
epistemological objective?
3. What was Descartes’ test
for foundationality?
4. What is rationalism? Was Descartes a rationalist?
5. According to Descartes, which of the
following beliefs are foundationally justified for you? (There may be
more than one.)
§
Your belief that the objects that you see around you exist.
§
Your belief that other people exist.
§
Your belief that you have a body.
§
Your belief that
you have a mind.
6.
What does “Cogito ergo sum” mean?
7.
What is solipsism? Was Descartes a solipsist?
8. Did Descartes think that
belief in God is justified? Why or why not?
9. According to Descartes, which of the
following beliefs are inferentially justified for you? (There may be
more than one.)
§
Your belief that the objects that you see around you exist.
§
Your belief that other people exist.
§
Your belief that you have a body.
10. Is Descartes’ epistemology ultimately
successful? Why or why not?