Selected Issues in Modern Metaphysics & Descartes's Philosophy
(Please answer all or some, in detail. Thank you)
1) Distinguish between rationalism and empiricism.
2) Briefly explain the importance of radical methodological doubt to Descartes's philosophy.
3) Explain how Descartes begins to dispel his doubt in Meditation 2.
4) Why is Descartes's argument for the existence of God so important?
5) How does Descartes argue that body (physical reality) is something that we should not completely doubt?
6) Briefly explain Hume's empiricist critiques of the ideas of substance, causality, and self.
7) Why does Hume think that it makes most sense to claim that we invent the idea of external objects? What are we doing when we believe in the existence of external objects?
8) Explain briefly how Descartes and Hume seek to salvage practical knowledge in spite of doubts about or weaknesses of metaphysical foundations.