What kind of principles are better suited to explaining the phenomena of the physical sciences?

Rubric as Follow:

PHI 105: Rubric for Graded Assignments
Criteria Points
Timeliness: Graded assignments are due by 11:55pm Eastern Time on Saturday
each week. Late submissions receive no points.
5
Length: Graded assignments should be sufficient in length to address the question(s)
or topic(s) completely. The required length for each assignment will be specified for
that particular assignment. Submissions outside of the specified parameter will receive
fewer points.
15
Content: Assignments should include effective expression of ideas, supporting detail
from the course resources and relevant examples for such ideas when appropriate.
Content should demonstrate insight into the topic and clear demonstration of
assimilated knowledge gained throughout the course. These assignments represent a
significant part of the overall course grade and should be treated as such.
20
Presentation: You are expected to demonstrate college-level writing skills,
appropriate sentence structure, format, and grammar. Assignments which are marred
by errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling or organization will receive fewer points,
and you may be required to resubmit assignments which are marred by significant
errors.

Instructions as follow:

Study Questions for
Descartes Readings
Using the link for the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy and assigned text, Descartes’
Meditations on First Philosophy, (Meditations I & II), answer the following questions in complete
sentences.
1) There were the two fundamental ways Descartes broke with the Scholastic tradition. The
first has to do with the Scholastic reliance on Aristotle’s understanding of substantial
forms being explained by final cause. What are the reasons (two) that are given for his
refusal of the use of substantial forms as an explanation for the nature of things? What
kind of principles are better suited to explaining the phenomena of the physical
sciences?
2) What is the second way that Descartes broke with the Scholastics and what did he
replace their thesis about the nature of knowledge with?’
3) Explain the tree metaphor that is given by Descartes as an image of holistic view of
philosophy in Section 2b: Descartes’ Project of IEP.
4) In terms of method, Descartes uses geometrical style demonstration rather than
syllogisms. Explain what this means and why he does this.
5) What is Descartes’ aim in Meditations on First Philosophy, according to IEP? Find where
Descartes explains his aim himself at the beginning of Meditation I of Meditations on
First Philosophy and provide the quoted material.
6) IEP explains that Descartes called all of his previous beliefs into doubt. What are some
of these beliefs that are presented therein and how does he come to doubt them?
Please be sure to read Meditation I in Meditations on First Philosophy carefully
alongside this section so that you can see how Descartes develops his method of doubt.
7) The IEP explains that this process of doubt is properly called skepticism and it is the
bedrock of Descartes’ method. The method is called Cartesian Doubt, and also
methodological doubt. What does the IEP emphasis as important to realize about this
method of doubt? What is the point of this methodological doubt and the ultimate goal?
8) In Meditation II of Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes does discover something
that is beyond doubt. It is Cogito Ergo Sum (I think therefore I am). Explain why
Descartes thinks that one cannot doubt this, using both IEP and Descartes’ reasoning
from the text.
9) What is the nature of the mind as described by IEP and Descartes? What are its
characteristics and faculties?
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10) The IEP explains that the modes of a thinking substance are its ideas. Descartes
distinguishes three types of ideas: fabricated, adventitious, or innate. Explain what each
is.
11) Descartes comes to the conclusion that the mind is better known than the body. This
claim is important for the theory of rationalism, because it strengthens the view that the
source of our most certain knowledge is pure reason, and that we can know fundamental
truths without recourse to sense perception. Explain how the wax example helps him
prove this.
12) Think the definition of Rationalism as the theory that reason rather than experience is
the foundation of certainty in knowledge. Explain how Descartes’ realizations support
this theory.

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