Hi has anyone read Descartes meditation 1 and Russell’s problems of philosophy’s chapter 1: appearance and reality? Are there any similarities and differences between them?
I’m not sure if i interpreted both text correctly?
Both of them doubt that senses bring upon truth reality
Descartes illustrate this through the dreams, and Russell instusrate this through the table.
Differences:
Descartes has certain beliefs
Descartes believe demon is deceving him
therefore all his beliefs may not be true
Russell doubt the real properties of external objects
but the the object is still present
difference between reality and appearance?
anymore significant differences? I’m not sure if i wrote anything useful?
The most conspicuous difference I see based on the information you have given is that Descartes appealed to supernatural, religious rationalization for doubting perceived existence, while Russell did not.
But what I certainly don´t remember, understand or agree with was Descartes convincing himself (circularly) that there´s not an Evil Deceiver but a God guaranteeing clear and distinct perception. Nevertheless the Dream Argument did have a profound effect on me. How the hell could anyone resolve it?!
Descartes never stops doubting what the senses tell us though, we pretty much can’t get anything from sensation, in the sense that we would usually think of getting knowledge from the senses. We have no reason to suppose that secondary properties exist in the world, and no reason to believe that the table I see exists in the world like I see it. Descartes has a very odd view of what we can know about the material world…
So Descartes was very much committed to his doubt about the senses, though he never really doubted reason. Unfortunately he gave some pretty good reasons for doubting reason, so he sorta had to give a reply, and thats where it all falls down.