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Who Is Descartes Likely Mistaken Presuppositions?

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It is crucial when trying to understand the arguments of Descartes to carefully analyze the likely mistaken presuppositions that he brings to them. One of Descartes’ likely mistaken presuppositions is his claim that he can and will put aside all presuppositions that he brings to his philosophical thinking. Descartes claims, “Regarding the opinions to which I had hitherto given credence, I thought that I could not do better than undertake to get rid of them, all at one go…” (Principles of Philosophy 117) Descartes’ assumption that he could put aside all of his presuppositions is a presupposition itself. He claims to put aside all presuppositions, yet makes a presupposition in assuming that he is capable of this. Furthermore, Descartes forgets one crucial component of his work, his language. He …show more content…

If he were able to, he wouldn’t be able to think about or analyze his arguments properly. There is no telling where he would be if he were able to put aside the fact that his language has meaning. It appears that he is unable to put aside at least two presuppositions. Therefore, it is a likely mistaken presupposition that he is able to put aside all presuppositions. Another likely mistaken presupposition which Descartes brings to his work is that he can doubt everything. He presupposes that there is one type of doubt and that he is capable of doing it. He decides that he will doubt anything that he has come to know or think in order to find the one thing that he can’t doubt. Descartes explains, “I will reject whatever is open to the slightest doubt just as though I have

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