Explain and criticise descartes

Descartes’ method of doubt is located in his first meditation in which he is concerned to put forward a series of sceptical arguments relating to past experiences and issues dealing with mathematical knowledge. Descartes’ method of doubt is described as a label often applied to his procedure where he attempts to irradiate prejudices or preconceived opinions, so he may be able to lay down a reliable metaphysical base for his apparent new science (Cottingham, 1993 ).

‘I realised that it was necessary, once in the course of my life, to demolish everything and start again right from the foundations if I wanted to establish anything at all in the sciences that was stable and likely to last.’ (First Meditation, AT VII 17: CSM I 12)

Many philosophers have described Descartes as a sceptic however he made it clear from his first public presentation of metaphysics that his aim was to eliminate doubt and find something secure and search for the truth in order to present a ‘true science’.

In order for anyone to criticise Descartes method of doubt, they must understand the concepts he has adopted and the reason(s) for his denial of previous knowledge and experience.

Descartes has often been compared and associated with Socrates in terms of their knowledge and beliefs. They could be both described as nihilists i.e. a thinker who believes in nothing and rejects all truths and values. Socrates believed he knew nothing despite being a very sociable and intelligent man although he did in fact have values. However some philosophers believe that being a nilisht is not necessarily a bad thing, they see as a different state at which to arrive at a different way of thinking about life, e.g. German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.

‘If there is no God, then I owe my existence not to a divine creator, but to some imperfect chain of chance events: but in this case it is even more likely that I am so imperfect to be deceived all the time’. (AT VII 21: CSM II 14)

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