Rene Descartes: one of the first Reality Checkers?

**Hercuflea** · 10-02-2009 07:56 PM

I am reading Descartes for my philosophy class and i ran across this in his "Meditation 1"

Though this be true, I must nevertheless here consider that I am a man, and that, consequently, I am in the habit of sleeping, and representing to myself in dreams those same things, or even sometimes others less probable, which the insane think are presented to them in their waking moments. How often have I dreamt that I was in these familiar circumstances, that I was dressed, and occupied this place by the fire, when I was lying undressed in bed? At the present moment, however, I certainly look upon this paper with eyes wide awake; the head which I now move is not asleep; I extend this hand consciously and with express purpose, and I perceive it; the occurrences in sleep are not so distinct as all this. But I cannot forget that, at other times I have been deceived in sleep by similar illusions; and, attentively considering those cases, I perceive so clearly that there exist no certain marks by which the state of waking can ever be distinguished from sleep, that I feel greatly astonished; and in amazement I almost persuade myself that I am now dreaming.

and later:

But this undertaking is arduous, and a certain indolence insensibly leads me back to my ordinary course of life; and just as the captive, who, perchance, was enjoying in his dreams an imaginary liberty, when he begins to suspect that it is but a vision, dreads awakening, and conspires with the agreeable illusions that the deception may be prolonged; so I, of my own accord, fall back into the train of my former beliefs, and fear to arouse myself from my slumber...

Just thought that was interesting since he wrote this in the early 1600's

**My Other Brain** · 10-02-2009 08:38 PM

That is fascinating. I study philosophy and I have never really been too fussed with Descartes. I just don't find his form of doubt reasonable. But this certainly makes me want to take a look. I find it odd how little philosophy there is about dreaming given how odd the experience is when you think about it.

**pounce** · 10-02-2009 10:55 PM

Originally Posted by My Other Brain

That is fascinating. I study philosophy and I have never really been too fussed with Descartes. I just don't find his form of doubt reasonable. But this certainly makes me want to take a look. I find it odd how little philosophy there is about dreaming given how odd the experience is when you think about it.

Dreams are what made me doubt reality - or what we perceive as reality. I don't know much about philosophy but I would imagine that dreams have inspired many philosophical ideas, even if they are not explicitly mentioned.