Question 1

Augustine concludes that "as I know that I am, so I know this also, that my soul is immortal."

Accepted Answer

Augustine does not directly conclude that the knowledge of his own existence implies the immortality of his soul. His arguments on the soul's nature and immortality are more nuanced and involve theological and philosophical reasoning rather than a direct equivalence between self-awareness and immortality.

Question 2

How does Augustine differentiate between the idea that "we both are, and know that we are," and the idea that "we perceive the things outside of us"?

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Question 3

Why is Augustine convinced that "without any delusive representation of images or phantasms, I am most certain that I am, and that I know and delight in this"?

Accepted Answer

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Question 4

What is Augustine's reply to the arguments of the Academicians [skeptics], who say, "What if you are deceived?" Do you agree with Augustine's reply? Explain your answer.

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Question 5

Explain Augustine's meaning when he says, "For, as I know that I am, so I know this also, that I know."

Accepted Answer

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Question 6

Descartes's application of methodological doubt requires which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Descartes's application of methodological doubt involves approaching the criticism of the principles on which all his former beliefs rested, rather than demonstrating that every one of his beliefs is false or proving that God does not exist. Additionally, Descartes did not believe that mathematics was based on falsehoods, so B is incorrect.

Question 7

According to Descartes, "All that I have, up to this moment, accepted as possessed of the highest truth and certainty, I received either from or through …"

Accepted Answer

Descartes famously doubted the reliability of his senses in his quest for certainty, leading to his conclusion that the only thing he couldn't doubt was his own existence ("I think, therefore I am"). He acknowledged that much of what he had accepted as true had come through the senses, which he realized could be deceptive.

Question 8

Descartes tells us that he can doubt that "I am in this place, seated by the fire, clothed in a winter dressing gown, that I hold in my hands this piece of paper," because …

Accepted Answer

Descartes doubts his sensory perceptions because he perceives that he could be dreaming and unable to distinguish his waking state from his dreaming state, leading him to question the reality of his experiences. Option B is incorrect as Descartes argues that even if he were insane, he could still experience sensations that were not based in reality. Option C is similar to Descartes' argument about being deceived by an evil demon, but not directly applicable to his doubts about his current sensory perceptions. Option D is not relevant to Descartes' argument about doubting his current sensory perceptions.

Question 9

Descartes asks the following: "how do I know that I am not also deceived each time I add together two and three"? Furthermore, "If, however, it were repugnant to the goodness of God to have created me subject to constant deception, it would seem likewise to be contrary to his goodness to allow me to be occasionally deceived; and yet it is clear that this is permitted." From this Descartes concludes that …

Accepted Answer

Descartes concludes that because he cannot be absolutely certain that he is not being deceived, there is nothing he formerly believed to be true that he cannot doubt. This results in his famous statement "Cogito, ergo sum" or "I think, therefore I am," which serves as the foundation for his philosophy of skepticism and the search for certain knowledge. Therefore, choices A, B, and C are all incorrect.

Question 10

Descartes realizes that "if I desire to discover anything certain," then …

Accepted Answer

Descartes realizes that in order to discover anything certain, he must start by doubting all of his beliefs and only accepting those beliefs that are beyond doubt. Therefore, he concludes that it is best to refrain from assenting to any opinions that might be shown to be manifestly false.

Question 11

Descartes says that "I will suppose, then, not that God, who is supremely good and the fountain of truth, but that some _____________, who is at once exceedingly potent and deceitful, has employed all his artifice to deceive me."

Accepted Answer

Descartes is describing an evil or malignant demon who has the power to deceive him. This demon is not a physical being but rather a hypothetical entity used to illustrate how even our most basic beliefs could be called into question. Therefore, option A, B, and D are not correct.

Question 12

The main goal of Descartes in his Meditations is to …

Accepted Answer

Descartes' main goal in his Meditations is to provide a firm foundation for knowledge by doubting everything he previously believed to be true and finding a basis for certainty through his famous phrase "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am).

Question 13

Descartes says, "all things being maturely and carefully considered, that this proposition-I am, I exist-is necessarily true each time it is expressed by me, or conceived in my mind. This alone is inseparable from me. I am-I exist: this is certain; but how often?" Descartes answers his own question by stating which of the following:

Accepted Answer

Descartes answers his own question by stating that the proposition "I am, I exist" is necessarily true each time it is conceived in his mind. Since thinking is an activity of the mind, it follows that the proposition is true each time he thinks, and thus "as often as I think" is the correct answer.

Question 14

Descartes uses his analysis of the example of a piece of wax to conclude that …

Accepted Answer

Descartes' analysis of the wax example in his Meditations is meant to show that our understanding of physical objects (like wax) is not merely through the senses but through the intellect, emphasizing the role of the mind in apprehending the essence of things.

Question 15

Descartes concludes at the end of Meditation II that …

Accepted Answer

Descartes concludes that he knows for certain that he exists as a thinking thing, stating "I think, therefore I am." This realization is the foundation for his future philosophical investigations.

Question 16

Descartes application of methodological doubt requires that he will approach the criticism of the principles on which all his former beliefs rested.

Accepted Answer

Descartes' method of doubt requires him to question and criticize the principles upon which his former beliefs rested, in order to arrive at certain knowledge. This involves a systematic and skeptical approach to all claims to knowledge, and a willingness to suspend judgment until he can be certain of their truth.

Question 17

According to Descartes, "All that I have, up to this moment, accepted as possessed of the highest truth and certainty, I received either from or through the senses."

Accepted Answer

Descartes believed that all knowledge ultimately comes from the senses, even if it is later modified by reason.

Question 18

Descartes tells us that he can doubt that "I am in this place, seated by the fire, clothed in a winter dressing gown, that I hold in my hands this piece of paper," because "I perceive so clearly that there exist no certain marks by which the state of waking can ever be distinguished from sleep."

Accepted Answer

Descartes argues that it is possible for him to doubt his current physical state because there are no certain marks that distinguish waking from sleep.

Question 19

Descartes asks the following: "How do I know that I am not also deceived each time I add together two and three"? Furthermore, "If, however, it were repugnant to the goodness of God to have created me subject to constant deception, it would seem likewise to be contrary to his goodness to allow me to be occasionally deceived; and yet it is clear that this is permitted." From this Descartes concludes that "there is nothing of all that I formerly believed to be true of which it is impossible to doubt."

Accepted Answer

Descartes argues that because he cannot be sure he is not being deceived, he cannot know anything for certain. He also argues that if God exists and is good, it would be incompatible with his goodness to allow for deception, but since deception happens, it must be that there is nothing he can know for certain. Therefore, he concludes that he must doubt everything he formerly believed to be true.

Question 20

Descartes realizes that "if I desire to discover anything certain," then "I must discover the ultimate truths of mathematics and logic."

Accepted Answer

Descartes' realization was that to discover anything certain, he must doubt everything he knows, leading to his famous conclusion "I think, therefore I am" (Cogito, ergo sum), rather than focusing solely on mathematics and logic as the foundation of all certain knowledge.

Quiz 2: Plato Knowledge Is Recollection