Philosophy – Descartes Methodic Doubt – 1AS – Letters

Descartes Methodic Doubt Rules

Rene Descartes 1596-1650 is the father of modern philosophy. His methodic doubt is a systematic approach to reaching certainty.

The Methodic Doubt

Descartes decided to doubt everything that could be doubted: senses external world mathematical truths. This was not skepticism but a tool to find absolute certainty.

The Four Rules

Evidence: accept only clear and distinct ideas. Analysis: divide problems into parts. Order: progress from simple to complex. Enumeration: ensure completeness.

Cogito Ergo Sum

I think therefore I am. After doubting everything Descartes found that the act of doubting itself proves the existence of the thinking self.

Exercises

1) What is methodic doubt? 2) List the four rules. 3) Explain cogito ergo sum.

See Descartes and Origin of Philosophy.