Blog Prompt 13

The process that Descartes undertakes is one where he brings all of his opinions and beliefs to the forefront of his thinking, with hope to eradicate all the false opinions he had picked up over the years and strengthen the correct beliefs. In Meditations I, Descartes states, “

It is now some years since I detected how many were the false
beliefs that I had from my earliest youth admitted as true, and how
doubtful was everything I had since constructed on this basis; and from
that time I was convinced that I must once for all seriously undertake to
rid myself of all the opinions which I had formerly accepted, and
commence to build anew from the foundation, if I wanted to establish
any firm and permanent structure in the sciences.”

He realizes he needs to actively contest beliefs and opinions that enter his mind, for they may not be truthful. As a personal example, over the last half year to about one year I have noticed my own biases towards subjects or sides in debates and I’m challenging my prior beliefs more and more. This helps me see events and headlines and articles with more critique and looking at those things from a 3-dimensional train of thought instead of a 2-dimensional train of thought. He believes it is good for people to question facts and opinions to better solidify that fact or opinion. Descartes also states, ”

All that up to the present time I have accepted as most true and
certain I have learned either from the senses or through the senses; but
it is sometimes proved to me that these senses are deceptive, and it is
wiser not to trust entirely to anything by which we have once been
deceived.”

He learns from his past mistakes and is wary of when something that has deceived him in the past comes up again. The next time it comes up he is knowledgeable about his prior deception that occurred. Descartes wants to break down his opinions and beliefs and build them back up with an sturdier base. He is also not doubting everything and anything, he has reasons for his doubt which can only make a certain belief stronger or break it down completely to where you understand the flaws in the idea. This was an interesting read and I look forward to reading the next part.