John Locke And Rene Descartes Essay - 1444 Words

Who are you? What defines who you are? Why makes you who you are? What is your personal identity? Have you ever sat around pondering the meaning of life, or maybe just your life? Have you asked yourself any of these questions? What were your answers? These are questions that people have been trying to answer since the beginning of time, before me and you were ever born or thought of. People live their whole lives trying to figure out exactly who they are and what their purpose is in life. In the field of philosophy, many philosophers have had theories on personal identity and a person’s â€Å"self.† These people have gone down in history books for their theories on a person’s identity: John Locke and Rene’ Descartes. These are two of the most†¦show more content†¦The result of this exchange is that the prince still considers himself the prince, even though he finds himself in an altogether new body. (Nimbalkar, 2011)† Rene’ Descartes is a well-known philosopher that is also famous for his theory on a person’s â€Å"self† or personal identity. His famous quote, â€Å"I think therefore I am, (Descartes, 2004)† came from his theory about personal identity. He came up with his theory on a person’s â€Å"Self† after he decided he was going to go through all his beliefs to prove to people that you could know something whole-heartedly. â€Å"I realized that if I wanted to establish anything in the sciences that was stable and likely to last, I needed—just once in my life—to demolish everything completely and start again from the foundations. (Descartes, 2004)† He believed that a person could doubt that anything existed, including themselves, but that if you were thinking about if you exist, then you must exist because you are thinking. Hence, â€Å"I think therefore I am. (Descartes, 2004)† His use of doubt was because he believed it w ould bring him irrefutable, undeniable truths about his beliefs. His theory on personal identity has been coined over the years as â€Å"dualism.† The Premise of dualism is that a person can doubt that they have a body, because Descartes doesn’tShow MoreRelatedPropelling Rational Thought Over Compelling Empiricism1459 Words   |  6 Pages In this paper I intend to examine the rationalist philosophy of Rene Descartes and fundamental empiricism of John Locke’s philosophical arguments, in particular their ideas relating to the science of man, his identity and attempt to explain distinctions between the two. As I lay the framework of my argument it is important to understand the precepts that serve as the underpinning for the views considered by Descartes and Locke respectively. Rationalism and empiricism are two modes of thoughtRead MoreJohn Locke And Rene Descartes1442 Words   |  6 PagesPhilosophers are individuals who address critical analysis of fundamental assumptions or beliefs with underlying theories of their own. John Locke and Rene Descartes were both classified as modern philosophers in the seventeenth century who sums up the subject about personal identity and its determents in reference to our own existence, such as who are we? The personal identity theory states that the philosophical confrontati on with the ultimate questions of our own existence, such as who are weRead MoreInnate Ideas Essay653 Words   |  3 Pagesof ideas. Rene Descartes and John Locke were these two philosophers with the opposing argument on innate ideas. The place where Descartes discusses his views were in the Meditations on First Philosophy and Lockes argument is located in An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. By using these sources I will be able to describe the difference between these two arguments on innate ideas. Rene Descartes was a mathematician and an extremely brilliant man. In mediation three, Descartes is tryingRead MoreEssay on Descartes vs Locke1257 Words   |  6 Pageslargely by experience, observation, and sensory perception. Renà © Descartes and John Locke, both seventeenth century philosophers, are often seen as two of the first early modern philosophers. Both Descartes and Locke attempt to find answers to the same questions in metaphysics and epistemology; among these: What is knowledge? Is there certainty in knowledge? What roles do the mind and body play in the acquisition of knowledge? Descartes and Locke do not provide the same answers to these questions. InRead MoreSimilarities And Weaknesses Of Descartes And Locke On The Topic Of The Origin Of Ideas1237 Words   |  5 Pageswe have? Renà © Descartes and John Locke, both seventeenth-century philosophers, are often seen as two of the first early modern philosophers. One question that the both of them try to tackle is the origin of ideas. Descartes and Locke do not provide the same answers to this question. This paper will discuss some of the strengths and weaknesses of both augments of Descartes and Locke on the topic of the origin of ideas. I t will also discuss who had the stronger argument overall. Descartes believesRead MoreDescartes vs Locke Essay1191 Words   |  5 PagesPhilosophy Essay (Descartes vs. Locke) Socrates once said, â€Å"As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.† Several philosophers contradicted Socrates’ outlook and believed that true knowledge was in fact attainable. This epistemological view however had several stances to it, as philosophers held different beliefs in regards to the derivation of true knowledge. Rationalists believed that the mind was the source of true knowledge, while in Empiricism, true knowledge derived from the senses. Rene DescartesRead MoreDescartes vs. Locke1175 Words   |  5 PagesPhilosophy Essay (Descartes vs. Locke) Socrates once said, â€Å"As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.† Several philosophers contradicted Socrates’ outlook and believed that true knowledge was in fact attainable. This epistemological view however had several stances to it, as philosophers held different beliefs in regards to the derivation of true knowledge. Rationalists believed that the mind was the source of true knowledge, while in Empiricism, true knowledge derived from the senses. Rene DescartesRead MoreJohn Locke s View On Identity963 Words   |  4 PagesHow is John Locke acknowledged in society? Rene Descartes became accredited by what? Well, people knew these men for their philosophical views, their views on identity varied undoubtedly. For example, Descartes famous line I think, therefore I am alludes to the fact that he most certainly exists. On the other hand, Locke believes that if you committed a crime, but cannot recall your actions, then you should not serve time for your crime. He nce, Descartes perspective of identity contains the selfRead MoreThe Early Stages of Psychology974 Words   |  4 Pages Beginnings Psychology is still in its infancy when compared with other sciences. It is approximately 125 years old (University of Phoenix, 2008). The roots of psychology were founded in abstract philosophers like Rene Descartes and John Locke, but go as far back as ancient Greece. Although we know that Babylonians and Buddhists played a significant role in the development of psychology, much of their teachings are passed down orally and lost or forgotten. ThereforeRead MoreWhat Is the Enlightenment? How Was This Question Answered by 18th Century Thinkers? and How Have Their Ideas Influenced Our Understanding of Modernity?962 Words   |  4 Pagesdefinitions created by a range of philosophes during and after the enlightenment period. These philosophers included Immanuel Kant, John Locke, Francis Bacon, Marquis de Condorcet, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Rene Descartes. Some believed that the enlightenment somewhat defined what we now call modernity and consider to be human. Immanuel Kant quoted in his famous 1784 essay, the â€Å"Enlightenment is mankind’s exit from its self-incurred immaturity.† Kant, I (1784) pp. 49-79. He believed that having the