wn through the centuries, all the impressions of sense had been doubted by skeptics. Thus Descartes was led to inquire whether or not any basis for certainty could be established.
Aquinas, then, searched for certainty with respect to Christian doctrine, and Descartes quested after epistemological certitude.
SKEPTICISM--THE APPROACHES OF THOMAS AQUINAS AND RENE DESCARTES
As various points are raised, the ideas of Aquinas and Descartes will be examined as appropriate to the analysis.
Descartes, for the purpose of securing a solid base for his philosophy, resolved to doubt everything possible. After eliminating everything by doubt, Descartes noticed that nothing could take away the reality of his own thoughts. And so, Descartes could at least be certain of this condition: "I think, therefore I am." Thus that assertion became the first principle of the philosophy sought by Descartes.
Cartesian doubt, then, proceeds to be skeptical of everything except the thinker's own thoughts. Although Descartes does away with everything, he can at least think. Thought is the one thing that exists, and Descartes has no doubt that he is thinking. Due to the fact that God exists and is perfect, Descartes can be certain that God would not deceive him concerning the truth of this. Of course, the possibility of being deceived by an evil demon is considered by Descartes. In "Meditation I" from Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes, in this translation uses the term 'evil genius' : "I shall then suppose, not that God who is supremely good and the fountain of truth, but some evil genius not less powerful than deceitful, has employed his whole energies in deceiving me . . . I shall consider myself as having no hands, no eyes, no flesh, no blood, nor any senses, yet falsely believing myself to possess all these things; I shall remain obstinate
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