Descartes has a method that begins by 'doubting everything'. Which among these do you think he has in mind? Aristotle, The Bible and Aquinas? The logical arguments of a Socrates defining justice?

            In “Principles of Philosophy,” Descartes uses the method of doubt to respond to skepticism.  Descartes says one must begin by doubting the truth of absolutely everything.  He says that one cannot be certain of any belief if one has even the slightest doubt about it.  He doubts not only the evidence his senses provide to him, but even the process of reasoning itself.  In doing so Descartes is responding to the skeptics with even more skepticism. 

           

  At the bottom of page 179 Descartes explains what it is to accept something as fact. Descartes makes the argument that it is necessary to doubt everything in order to make certain that assumptions are not made. If these assumption are made the argument disqualify the primary means for carrying out all the functions.  He says philosophy is used as a vehicle to understand more things which the human mind has not understood yet.  Descartes believed that philosophy and philosophers are very important because “…the greatest good a state can enjoy is to possess true philosophers” (180). This seems to mirror the ideas expressed in Plato’s Republic. Descartes appears to doubt all assertions except the assertion that philosophy is a noble pursuit. He also claims that God (all knowing) has all the knowledge which all men seek.

            Descartes is arguing against the Aristotelian thinking that was widely accepted at the time.  Aristotle had stated that all information for intellectual understanding must be provided by one’s own senses.  Descartes discovers that the statement “I exist” is something that is beyond all doubt and that statement is therefore absolutely certain.

Descartes understandably likes the idea of philosophy but realizes that many do not share this enthusiasm. These words are echoed in the preface. Descartes searches for man to search for everything. Descartes offers that man should believe in God.  Descartes argues that when man relies too heavily on his senses, he questions absolutely everything and he even questions God’s existence.

Descartes makes frequent references to Aristotle in his work, but Descartes interprets Aristotelian ideas differently than his contemporaries. Descartes believes that others had mischaracterized Aristotle’s ideas into something they are not.