Rene Descartes In the 17th century, the French philosopher Rene Descartes came up with "Cogito ergo sum" or "I think, therefore I am". This became the first principle in his philosophy. He formed the "Cartesian Method" which has "powerfully influenced the developm...

When I was a child I viewed everything from a child's point of view. If I was afraid of the dark it was because I believed that monsters dwelled under my bed and in my closets. If I was afraid of loud noises it is because I believed with all my little heart that they led to danger. As I aged an...

The Question of Certainty We are living in a world where there are various theories, views and opinions about many different issues. These theories, views and opinions are changing, as everyday new scientific discoveries are made and new theories conducted. Consequently, our knowledge and what we ...

1. Plato's Life In order to better understand Plato's philosophy on life we must first learn about his background. Plato was born in Athens, Greece in 427 B.C. He was the youngest son of Ariston and Perictione, who were both from very well respected and wealthy families. When Plato wa...

Science has always been seen as a quest for knowledge that quenches man's thirst for the ultimate truth. This is actually a statement that really can't just be stated but must be followed with a deep explanation as not everyone would agree with this saying. Even if the statement is ag...

There are many differences in methods used by science and religion. Which ones are more fundamental is not very clear. The basic method of religion is to explain the world by already existing beliefs. Those beliefs may be extended or redefined to revolutionize religion. Theology as a "method" of rel...

What does it mean to know something is true? - Why is it necessary to differentiate between what you know and do or can not know? - When do you doubt what you thought you sincerely knew? This critical essay of epistemology focuses on skepticism, and why philosophers such as John Hospers challenge a...

EXPLAIN WHAT PLATO MEANT BY THE FORM OF THE GOOD. Plato, (427 – 347 BCE), was the second, and probably the most famous of the three ancient Greek philosophers. it has been said that all later philosophy is merely a "footnote to Plato" (A.N. Whitehead). Plato is the first p...

Descartes and Socrates -- What Knowledge Is Two Approaches to KnowledgeThe concept of knowledge, what it is, what it means, and how it is gained, has been debated for literally centuries. Philosophers, historians, social scientists have questioned the components of knowledge and its acquisition and...

Rene Descartes asserts that our most fundamental beliefs are uncertain, and consequently, all beliefs resting on these basics are also uncertain. In his First Mediation, he sets out to determine which beliefs are certain and which are doubtful. Descartes applied illusion argument, dreaming argument,...

" Valentine:.....till there's no time left. That's what time means. Septimus: When we have found all the mysteries and lost all the meaning, we will be alone, on an empty shore."Discuss the importance of knowledge within Arcadia in light of the above quotation.Knowledge is of importance to all of ...

" Valentine:.....till there's no time left. That's what time means. Septimus: When we have found all the mysteries and lost all the meaning, we will be alone, on an empty shore."Discuss the importance of knowledge within Arcadia in light of the above quotation.Knowledge is of importance to all of ...

In Descartes' meditations, Descartes begins what Bernard Williams has called the project of 'pure enquiry' to discover an indubitable premise or foundation to base his knowledge on, by subjecting everything to a kind of scepticism now known as Cartesian doubt. This is known as foundationalism, where...