DQ10

Class Responses and Instructor Comments

>From Avrohom: The decision that 'this is wax' is made through the mind alone. in order to reach the conclusion that 'this is wax', your senses have to consult your mind. Your senses ask to your mind,"Is this wax? It feels like it. Smells like it..." So then your mind comes to the conclusion of, "Yep, it must be wax." In other words, your senses give the premises but only your mind can draw the conclusion. ---Is this right?

>rm says: It's good. You might think about it this way, also: Since we have contradictory information about the wax from the senses (See Q9) we know that the wax is something understood and not sensed. We perceive it with the senses via the imagination, but only in a confused way; our real (firm and lasting) perceptions are those conclusions made by the mind (as you say).

Descartes Reading Guide 10. "Surely it is the same piece of wax that I see, touch, and imagine... But I need to realize that the perception of the wax is neither a seeing, nor a touching, nor an imagining." (68) Explain.		Back to Descartes Reading Guide Back to Philosophy 101 Home Next Question
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