Philosophy

Philosophy TOPIC QUESTION: In Descartes’ Meditations, the meditator claims that “I exist as a thing that thinks” is indubitable. In class, we noted that there are some interpretative questions about what this claim means and how it’s supposed to be justified. In particular, there are questions about what the meditator means by “I” and “thinking thing”, and whether the claim is supposed to be inferred from some more basic claims. Explain what you believe is the best (most plausible, most charitable) interpretation of this claim’s meaning and justification. Then present the most challenging objection you think one could raise against the resulting position and: c. Defend it against this objection, or d. Present the best response Descartes could make against the objection and explain why this response doesn’t work.