The method of doubt
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Question
Descartes' method of doubt?
Answer
Deliberately doubting everything that can be doubted, so that whatever survives must be certain.
Question
The three waves of doubt?
Answer
The senses deceive → the dream argument (can't prove you're awake) → the evil demon (could fake even maths).
Question
The dream argument?
Answer
Dreams feel just as real as waking, so you can't be certain you're awake — even ordinary beliefs wobble.
Question
The evil demon?
Answer
An imagined all-powerful deceiver used to doubt even simple truths like 2 + 3 = 5 — the hardest test for certainty.
Question
What is certainty for Descartes?
Answer
A belief that cannot possibly be false — not just likely, but immune even to an all-powerful deceiver.
Question
Is Descartes a sceptic?
Answer
No — he uses doubt as a tool to rebuild knowledge on certain foundations, not to abandon it.
Question
Why is the doubt called 'methodological'?
Answer
It's a deliberate, pretended doubt used as a filter — not a real loss of belief.
Question
The apple-basket image?
Answer
Tip out every apple and only return the sound ones — that's Descartes clearing beliefs to keep only the certain.
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Topic 10.3 hub
Meditations on First Philosophy — Descartes
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