12. Errors in Judgement & the Limitations of Descartes' Epistemology

Summary

This video explores Descartes' philosophy, particularly his views on epistemic certainty and the role of the will in making judgment errors. Descartes argues that our cognitive faculties, including perception and judgment, are divinely created and infallible in themselves, provided we exercise proper restraint in judgment. Errors arise when we overreach beyond clear and distinct perceptions. The video delves into the complexities of Descartes' arguments, including his reliance on God's perfection and the challenge of avoiding the Cartesian Circle. It also critiques Descartes' method for achieving knowledge with epistemic certainty and reflects on his legacy in metaphysics and epistemology.

Takeaways

• 😀 Descartes argues that errors in knowledge arise not from our perceptions, but from the misuse of our will to judge beyond clear and distinct perceptions.
• 😀 God, as a perfect creator, provides us with infallible cognitive faculties, including perception and judgment, which are the foundation for certain knowledge.
• 😀 The will is central to Descartes' theory of judgment: while our perceptions are clear and distinct, errors occur when we misapply the will in making judgments.
• 😀 Perception alone is not enough for epistemic certainty; correct judgment is required to properly interpret clear and distinct perceptions.
• 😀 Descartes proposes that we can avoid errors of judgment by restraining the will and refraining from making judgments about unclear or indistinct perceptions.
• 😀 The 'Cartesian Circle' presents a problem in Descartes' epistemology, as he seems to need to prove God’s existence to guarantee the certainty of clear and distinct perceptions, which he uses to prove God’s existence.
• 😀 Descartes suggests that errors of judgment are the result of free will, which can either lead us to truth or error depending on how it is exercised.
• 😀 In Descartes' view, it is essential to distinguish between clear and distinct perceptions and other perceptions to avoid judgment errors.
• 😀 Although God guarantees the perfection of our cognitive faculties, it is possible for humans to deceive themselves by misjudging their perceptions as clear and distinct when they are not.
• 😀 Descartes' philosophy calls for a disciplined use of the will, ensuring that judgments are always in accordance with clear and distinct perceptions, avoiding overreach into uncertain areas of knowledge.

Q & A

What is Descartes' view on the possibility of error in knowledge?

Descartes believes that errors in knowledge arise from the misuse of free will in judgment. While our perceptions are guaranteed to be clear and distinct by God, errors occur when we make judgments that go beyond the evidence provided by those perceptions.

How does Descartes reconcile God's perfection with the possibility of human error?

Descartes argues that God's perfection guarantees the clarity and distinctness of our perceptions, but errors happen when humans misuse their faculty of judgment, which is given freely by God. The errors are due to the free exercise of the will in making judgments, not the perceptions themselves.

What role does judgment play in Descartes' epistemology?

In Descartes' view, judgment is crucial to knowledge. While our perceptions can be infallible, judgment, which is an act of free will, can lead us to errors when not used correctly. Therefore, sound judgment is essential for drawing accurate conclusions from clear and distinct perceptions.

Why does Descartes think we can avoid errors in judgment?

Descartes believes we can avoid errors by restraining our judgment and only passing judgment when we have clear and distinct perceptions. By limiting ourselves to these perceptions and avoiding assumptions beyond them, we can avoid errors in our knowledge.

What is the Cartesian Circle, and how does it challenge Descartes' argument?

The Cartesian Circle is a potential circular reasoning problem in Descartes' argument. It suggests that Descartes needs to prove God's existence and benevolence to guarantee the certainty of clear and distinct perceptions, but he also needs those clear and distinct perceptions to prove God's existence. This creates a logical problem in his epistemology.

How does Descartes defend against the potential for error in perception?

Descartes defends against error in perception by emphasizing that clear and distinct perceptions are infallible, provided that they are properly judged. The errors occur when individuals make hasty judgments beyond the scope of what is clear and distinct.

What is the relationship between God's perfection and the faculty of judgment?

According to Descartes, God's perfection ensures that the faculty of judgment, which is freely given to humans, has the potential to always lead to truth if used correctly. Errors arise when judgment is misused, but the faculty itself, when exercised properly, is infallible.

How does Descartes propose to avoid the errors of willful judgment?

Descartes proposes avoiding errors of willful judgment by refraining from making judgments when perceptions are not sufficiently clear and distinct. He advises not to make conclusions unless the evidence provided by the perception is absolutely certain.

What is the importance of 'clear and distinct' perceptions in Descartes' theory of knowledge?

In Descartes' theory, clear and distinct perceptions are the foundation of epistemic certainty. They are perceptions that are so self-evident that they cannot be doubted. All reliable knowledge must be based on these kinds of perceptions.

What challenges arise when trying to apply Descartes' epistemic principles in practice?

A major challenge in applying Descartes' principles is determining when a perception is truly clear and distinct. Some perceptions may appear clearer than others, making it difficult to draw a definitive line between those that are epistemically certain and those that are not, potentially leading to errors in judgment.