Document1-Word out References Mailings Review View Tell me what you want to do A

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Document1-Word out References Mailings Review View Tell me what you want to do Answer two of the following[ answer on the back: 1. Descartes assumes that we can be certain about our mental states. Is that true? Could you be mistaken about your mental states? Could you be mistaken about the fact that you're in pain, for example? If so, what does that imply for Descartes' program? 2. Can we know beyond a reasonable doubt that the external world exists? Why or why not? 3. How does Kant explain the possibility of synthetic a priori truths? 4. What is Plato's allegory of the cave supposed to demonstrate? 5. Why does Berkeley believe that it's impossible for material objects to exist?

Explanation / Answer

Ans 1) It is not always true because at times no matter what there can be skeptics and mistake in the mental states. At times a person can be confused and in dilemma about certain things which makes it a less certainty of mental state. In the example where it is stated that can we mistaken that we are in pain, it is quite contradictory as it is the senses that makes us feel the feel. The brain is connected to the senses and that is what gives us the feeling of pain. It is rarely possible to completely eliminate senses from mind. He states that a mind can exists without a body which is true because at times there are senses and body parts that stop functioning but mind still works. However, it is not always true that a person can be certain about mental states.

Ans 2) No, we cannot known the existence of the external world beyond a reasonable doubt because it is the restrictive knowledge. The knowledge of the external world is majorly based on some reflecting ideas of how we see and perceive things and what we experience through our sensory experiences. It is more of skepticism when it comes to understanding and knowing the external world beyond something experienced.

Ans 3) It was defined by Kant as a synthetic judgement which is considered to be true or right based on the priori grounds. It is something that is factual but universally true. It is something where the truth is not analytical or logical but something that has been verified independently based on one’s personal experience.

Ans 4) The allegory of the Cave was a theory that was represented or show by Greek Philosopher named Plato which makes a comparison on the effect of the education and lack of it in the nature. In this allegory, Plato compares the people untutored in the Theory of Forms to prisoners chained in the cave who are not able to turn their heads. They are only able to see the cave. A fire starts behind them and a parapet is present behind the fire and the prisoners. The puppeteers walk along the parapet and they are behind the prisoners. The puppeteers hold up the puppets where the shadow is cast on the wall which the prisoners are able to see. In this they are only able to see the shadows but not the real thing and hence mistake the reality of the appearance.

Ans 5) Berkeley denied the existence of material as he considered that the substance must be incorpeal and considered that every material is merely a combination of number of ideas.

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