FIRST YEAR SEMINAR IN PHILOSOPHY: RELATIVISM
PHIL 196, Sec. 004: TTh 4pm-5:30pm in G160 Angell Hall
The University of Michigan
Fall 2004
Instructor: James Woodbridge
email address: jwood@umich.edu
Course Webpage: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jwood/umich/Phil196.htm
Office Hours: T 2pm-3pm, W 12:30pm-2pm, and by appointment
Office: 2203 Angell Hall
Office Phone: 764-6882
Dept. Phone: 764-6285
RESPONSE ESSAY 3
On pp. 51-52 in "Meditation Six" from Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes summarizes some of the main points he claims to have established thus far in his response to skepticism and then gives
an argument for the actual existence of corporeal things. Write a 2-page paper focusing on this argument (p. 52). Explain how Descartes reasons to the conclusion that corporeal things must exist, and what
he thinks we can know about them in addition to their mere existence (this points back to beginning and end of "Meditation Five").
Aim to do the following sorts of things:
- Explain Descartes' reasoning in your own words, indicating all of the claims he relies on to reach his conclusion.
- Evaluate the argument--Does it work? Consider how it appeals to conclusions Descartes has drawn earlier.
- Identify questions that can be raised about Descartes' argument here, given its appeal to his earlier conclusions.
- Assess Descartes' foundationalist response to skepticism. What are its weak points?
Keep your paper within the 2-page limit!
Your paper is due in the Philosophy Dept. drop box Monday, October 25th by 3pm.