Descartes theories essays

Descartes theories essays The topic of human philosophy is one filled with arduous arguments about existence and the questioning of why we are here. Rene Descartes Meditations on First Philosophy is no different. The first two meditations deal specifically with these issues, as Descartes examines several examples where these questions can be pondered. The most memorable of these example can be found in Meditation Two, where Descartes describes the piece of wax. The wax changes forms when it melts, and its primary characteristics (color, fragrance, shape, hardness etc...) disappear, but it still remains a piece of wax, just found in a different form. More than anything else, what Descartes strives to do is provoke interesting thoughts in the mind of the reader, maybe not completely changing their opinion on the subject at hand, but at least allowing them to see the issue from a different perspective. In my own prior experience, I have found that the understanding of another mans perspective only enhances ones own thoughts and opinions on an array of philosophical questions. In Meditation Three, Descartes mentions two terms, nature and light of nature. Soon after introducing these two terms, it becomes clear that they mean very different ideas about how one is taught to act by the environment in which they live. The difference between these two terms will be discussed later in this essay. The main point concerning these terms is concerning how decisions are made, and how problems are solved by the mind. In most of the writing, it appears that nature represents the instincts found in people from when they are young. In contrast, it appears that light of nature represents something one must observe to realize its true meaning. These points can be seen most clearly on page 72 of Meditation Three, when Descartes writes, When I say here I have been taught by nature, all I have in mind is that I am driven by a spo...