2. René Descartes Three Stages of Doubt

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this module, we examine Descartes three stages of doubt, focusing in particular on (i) the systematic character of Deescartes’ hyperbolic doubt (ii) the unreliability of the senses (ii) the dream problem for perception (iii) the possibility of an evil demon.

Course

In this course, Dr Ema Sullivan-Bissett (University of Birmingham) explores the limits of knowledge (scepticism). In the first module, we contrast normal incredulity to philosophical scepticism, and examine various ways to remove grounds for doubt. In the second module, we come to look at how Descartes arrives at his three stages of doubt, laying the groundwork for the sceptical challenge. In the third module, we turn to Descartes’ response to the sceptical challenge, before looking at Locke’s response in the fourth module. In the fifth module, we examine Berkely’s idealism in response to the sceptical challenge. In the sixth module, we evaluate G.E. Moore’s proof of an external world. Finally, in the seventh module, we consider whether a possible response to scepticism can be found in contextualism.

Lecturer

Dr Ema Sullivan-Bisset is a reader in philosophy at the University of Birmingham. Her research interests are in the philosophy of mind and psychology. Her recent publications include Better to return whence we came (2022) and Debunking doxastic transparency (2022).