xCogito Cove

(The Cogito)

In order to think that we may be being deceived something (a thinking thing) must exist. The Cogito

does not prove that the external world exists. Descartes reached the cogito using reason alone.

Evil Cave

(The Evil Genius Argument)

We have no way to prove that an evil demon is not tricking us into thinking that we exist. Nothing can be certain. This is called diabolic doubt.

The Dream Islands

(The Dreaming Argument)

We cannot prove that we are not in fact dreaming. This means that knowledge we gain with out sense

must be doubted. A priori knowledge just as mathematics survives this argument.

Sense City

(What Descartes believes about knowledge from the senses)

Descartes is a rationalist and so believes that a priori knowledge is superior to sense experience as a foundation for knowledge. In

meditation 1 he proves that the senses cannot be trusted.

Falling Down House

(Descartes Method)

Descartes wants to throw out all his false opinions and start fresh. He throws away any knowledge that can be even slightly doubted. He

starts with the foundations of his knowledge so that the rest will come falling down just like a house.

Enlightenment Island

(Descartes Aim)

Fundamental things Descartes thought to be true turn out to be false. He write the meditations to try and find knowledge

that he can be certain of.