Reading Questions

W 01 Dec
Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy; Galileo, Letter to Madame Christina

1) Descartes

Try to write out brief summaries of the arguments of each of the six mediations.

What is Descartes' goal? Does he succeed? If not, why not? Can you identify places where D. makes important logical leaps or assumptions that might weaken his arguments?

What is the meaning of "I think, therefore I am"? How does D. demonstrate this? Can this be done without using D's method of radical doubt?

What are Descartes' two proofs of the existence of God? Are they legitimate?

What is the difference between intellection and imagination? How does imagination demonstrate material existence?

What is D's position on free will? How does this fit in with earlier discussions of the subject that you have studied?

Why is it necessary that God not be a deceiver? How does D. demonsrate that God is not a deciever?

2) Galileo

What is Galileo's main point here?  Is this new?

Why exactly should we trust dots of light supposedly coming from hundreds of millions of miles away seen by looking through a tube?

What is Galileo's hierarchy of means for acquiring knowledge about the world?  What is the place of revelation/scripture in this hierarchy?  Why is he even bothering to discuss it?

Does this have anything to do with Descartes?