René_Descartes'_Meditations_on_First_Philosophy__the_Outside_World_Problem

In the 5th The first paragraph Descartes Meditation leads one to the contemplation of the phenomenon of the dream a second basic question. Was in the 3rd Paragraph, sensory perception as a basis of knowledge called into question, so is now the one subject on knowledge-oriented, cognitive state of the doubt. In the dream, and reflects Descartes, he experienced "sometimes even harder to believe, (...) as those in the waking state (AT VII, 19). Those are the crazy, insane, mental, of which state he is still so in paragraph 4 far believes. Just as those in waking an attitude have to the world, based no doubt on the sane people on imagination, there is now Descartes, who says in a dream to experience more crazier. More often, however, are in a dream state in which he experiences from everyday life. For example, "to be here, to have the skirt and sitting on the stove" (AT VII, 19). First, he expects to be able to distinguish between dream and waking clearly. The dream example is nothing more than memories because the "head I move (Descartes, note the author) is not encompassed by sleep" (AT VII, 19). The withdrawal of this "argument" follows immediately, because even in his dreams he believes such to have thought . As a result, it is found, for Descartes, therefore, not possible to secure features "can be distinguished from the sleeping guards" by the (AT VII, 19). In the first Descartes is outlined in paragraph concern is to find an initial basis, starting from which there is only the opportunity to build something lasting. The method, which he uses the overthrow of his opinions (logical word choice, as all plays without sound basis only opinion character) is the universal doubt. This is characterized by two criteria (AT VII, 18): All that I can not doubt, and certainly is more reasonable, to discard. II Everything is built on something that has to be rejected by criterion I, is necessary to reject as well. It is thus urgent to investigate not all individual cases, but foundations to collapse or to find a secure foundation. Criterion I does not distinguish between truth and falsehood, but after undoubted and indubitable. However, this is completely sufficient for Criterion II, since everything is built on undoubted, is necessarily open to doubt himself. Paragraph 3 - by the application of this method - first of all sensory perception as a possible basis exclude certain knowledge. The sense of where everything went out, what Descartes had been directly or indirectly, are considered to be entirely true, now and then is not free from delusions. Therefore, the sensory perception, according to criterion I should be discarded as a whole. According to criterion II is still everything to discard what is built on this foundation. Because all you have ever founded on the sensory perception is thus nothing more than safe. It must, however, whether some of the undoubted cases of sensory perception can be divorced. In paragraph 4 leads Descartes to include paragraph 5 in the example taken up again. Thus for Descartes is not to doubt, "that I (Descartes, note the author) am here, sitting by the stove, wearing my winter coat" (AT VII, 18; see above). The sensual proximity, the physical self-concept is thus separate from the totality of sensory perception as indubitable subregion. Unless you would take the position of one madman to be deceived alone there. With the juxtaposition of madness on the one indubitable own immediate area of ​​the stresses and, secondly, the transition to the phenomenon of dreams. Be characterized by the senses, while the madness and the state of sleep (dream). The circle is closed. The application of the method of doubt on the result of paragraph 5 above shows, even without the addition of Descartes, that he "would be encouraged to dream in the mind" (AT VII, 19), the adoption of the dream state: The possibility of distinguishing waking from sleep is not certain, according to criterion I is the possibility of distinguishing therefore be rejected. Thus, the assumption of waking is also open to doubt and reject. To suggest therefore that sleeping (dreaming) is. We have at the end of paragraph 3 is open to doubt a world in which anything and we win in paragraph 4 again for at least a portion of the security world, so we go with the end of paragraph 5 in conjunction with criterion II is not only the security again, but as it lost the whole world (outside world) with. Was the subject of the first sensory perception doubt appeal, it is now open to doubt whether it senses and thus sensory perception even exists.