The views of Descartes on Rationalism - Essay Example

He argues that there are many things that he accepted as truth in his childhood. Descartes refuted his childish and youthful beliefs and sought to build his ideas afresh. He used a methodological approach to handle issues that nagged his mind. He is quoted as saying that “some thoughts within him were as due to his power of thinking.” In applying these thoughts in ideas of notion, he was able to distinguish them from others. In his first meditation, Descartes doubts many things that happen to human life.

Notably, Descartes employs a rational and methodological doubt. For instance, he states that when he dreams, he is deceived by illusions that he sees in the dreams. Similarly, the insane perceive the same dreams in their waking moments. He argues that human beings are thinking beings in a position to know their minds distinctively and clearly, but have to work towards knowing their own mind. Descartes is aware of the power to reason, which he views as the basis of accepting knowledge. Descartes regards anything that is doubtful as false.

He gives a critical analysis of his existence and the existence of demons. He argues that he exists because he has conceived that opinion in his mind. He clearly notes the difference that exists between “I think” and “I exist”. He recognizes the power of human beings to think. In doing so, he asserts that human beings are able to think about things that do not exist. Questioning the existence of things in human environment would lead to thinking and doubting some norms in the society.

In as much as that would happen, the mind exists within the body, thus he is able to think and sense at the same time. This attribute provides room for discerning what is good, right, or wrong. Descartes believed that sensory perception is part of the same mind which thinks but is not veridical. For instance, when experimenting with wax, he realized that the wax had