Descartes
Descartes uses wax to demonstrate that knowledge gained from sensory impressions is not certain. He says that in order to be knowledge it has to be certain. Because the wax's property changed, his sense impressions changed. Thus, his conclusions about the wax were not certain. He realized that he was lead to the wrong conclusion by his senses. Then, he extended that idea to all other o
Therefore, wax may simply be a creation of his imagination. It is also significant because it leads to a clear idea about human nature and self-identity. " It helps him to define his identity in terms of something certain. Descartes was constantly asking questions and examining reality. There is one constant that exists when perceiving any object. This open-mindedness allows room for new ideas and discovery. Therefore, we should examine objects with an open mind. That constant is that there exists a being that sees. In other words, "I think, therefore I am" is significant because it leads us to examine the world and draw conclusions with the certainty that we may be proven wrong. Thus, it even became questionable whether he even had eyes with which to see external objects. This led Descartes to the conclusion that he is a "thinking being. So, sensory perception does not lead to certain knowledge. Thus, we do not take "facts" for granted.
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