Description
Normally, we tend to think that doubt is a bad or negative thing; in school for example, we strive for the right answers; in normal US daily activity, we try to get things done, be productive, and proceed with our activities. “Doubt” is not seen as a value.
All semester both directly and indirectly, explicitly and implicitly we have seen how important doubt is in philosophy.
The prisoners in Plato’s cave suffered because in part because they did not know to doubt the reality of the shadows that constituted most of their daily lives.
Socrates in the Apology walked around Athens teaching people the importance of doubting their lives and values—he taught them to all into question what they saw, felt, and thought.
In the Sermon that we read, we saw Jesus putting into question people’s standard way of behaving.
Now in Descartes, doubt becomes the basis for his first Meditation, an essential step on his way to understanding the soul, god, truth, and reality. Put simply, he is saying that without active, conscious doubt one can never get to these higher order values and insights.
Consequently, I want everyone to practice and try out doubting for Forum 2.
After very carefully reading Descartes’ Meditation 1 and reviewing the videos on Descartes , I want you to go into your neighborhood for a walk, drive, or short trip. Spend about 45 minutes walking, driving, or just wandering.
Once you have done this, ask yourself: “What can I doubt?”
Write 2-5 paragraphs responding to this. Use the following format for this forum
- Concise introduction stating where you are and in a sentence what you are doubting and the basic reason why. If you do not want to share the actual location, you may fictionalize. I don’t care which location you choose, but I want there to be one. Otherwise, philosophy is abstract and empty.
- Write 1-3 paragraphs on what can be doubted about what you see. Explain why you can doubt this. These paragraphs should have at least two examples of things that happen or at least could conceivably happen. You may be an active member of the experience or stay at a distance and just observe and oversee.
- Conclude with a traditional summary
Explanation & Answer
Attached.
Outline
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Reference
Running head: DOUBT
1
What Can Be Called into Doubt
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
DOUBT
2
What Can Be Called into Doubt
I am standing by a pole on the street in my neighbourhood, and it is the busiest street in the
neighbourhood because it is where the grocery market is situated. Many people use the street
while going to the market and it is, therefore, a boisterous place. In this discussion, I doubt
the existence of sound and language. On the street, the dominant sound is that of humans
talking, laughing there is an occasional sound of cars hooting and somebody banging
something more like a door or metal. As I listen more attentively, the sounds get louder in my
head. Loo...
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