DQ29

Class Responses and Instructor Comments

>From anna grier:

Descartes knowledge of geometry comes from thought and ideas, knowledge from God. His ideas about triangles and geometry are innate and the intellect operates in such a way that he can recall whatever he needs to know at will. His clear and distinct understanding of things allows him to match his idea to what it belongs to.

>rm says: You have the last part of the question right, but his argument is actually a proof by cases. All ideas must come in one of three ways (See Q16). Here, I'm asking why mathematics can not come in either of the other two ways. This is an important argument.

>From W Y Ng:

Does this question have to do with ideas that are innnate, from sensory, or produced by me? The knowledge of mathematics because of that are "clear" and "distinct"?

>rm says: Yes, see above.

>From EDDIE:

THE 2 DIFFERENT WAYS DESCARTES' KNOWLEDGE OF GEOMETRY COULD NOT COME FROM IS INTERNALLY (PRODUCED BY ME) AND COULD NOT COME FROM SENSES (AQUIRED) IT COULD ONLY COME FROM REASONING (INNATE). THE REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE HE HAS KNOWLEDGE OF THESE THINGS DISTINCTIVELY AND CLEARLY. DESCARTES BELIEVE THAT MATHEMATICS IS TRUE BECAUSE OF THIS.

>rm says: This is good for the first part of the question (and for the third part), but we still need the arguments for why mathematical knowledge can not be acquired nor invented.

Descartes Reading Guide 29. In what 2 different ways does Descartes think his knowledge about geometry (e.g. triangles) can not come? (Recall Question 16.) Why? What does Descartes think about his knowledge of mathematics because of this?		Back to Descartes Reading Guide Back to Philosophy 101 Home Next Question
Enter your response to the above question, or to a previous response, in the form below, or use this email link. I will post your response on the right, and comment if I think I can be helpful. When emailing, instead of using the form, please indicate the question number. When using the form below, if you neglect to enter your name or email, I won't know who you are.	Class Responses and Instructor Comments >From anna grier: Descartes knowledge of geometry comes from thought and ideas, knowledge from God. His ideas about triangles and geometry are innate and the intellect operates in such a way that he can recall whatever he needs to know at will. His clear and distinct understanding of things allows him to match his idea to what it belongs to. >rm says: You have the last part of the question right, but his argument is actually a proof by cases. All ideas must come in one of three ways (See Q16). Here, I'm asking why mathematics can not come in either of the other two ways. This is an important argument. >From W Y Ng: Does this question have to do with ideas that are innnate, from sensory, or produced by me? The knowledge of mathematics because of that are "clear" and "distinct"? >rm says: Yes, see above. >From EDDIE: THE 2 DIFFERENT WAYS DESCARTES' KNOWLEDGE OF GEOMETRY COULD NOT COME FROM IS INTERNALLY (PRODUCED BY ME) AND COULD NOT COME FROM SENSES (AQUIRED) IT COULD ONLY COME FROM REASONING (INNATE). THE REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE HE HAS KNOWLEDGE OF THESE THINGS DISTINCTIVELY AND CLEARLY. DESCARTES BELIEVE THAT MATHEMATICS IS TRUE BECAUSE OF THIS. >rm says: This is good for the first part of the question (and for the third part), but we still need the arguments for why mathematical knowledge can not be acquired nor invented.
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