The Influence of Cogito and Position of God to Subjects of Knowledge and Belief in Descartes’ Philosophy

Year 2015, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 1 - 15, 13.07.2015

Naciye Atış

https://doi.org/10.18491/bijop.75523

Abstract

Metaphysics of Descartes is the first and preparation science of his philosophy. Because, Descartes makes epistemology. Descartes proves principles of this philosophy by metaphysics. These principles provide subject and assurance for accuracy of epistemology. Descartes says that cogito is the subject of epistemology and existence of God is the assurance for accuracy of it. Descartes calls these existences as substances in his metaphysics. These substances are two main, and the most important, existences of the philosophy of Descartes. This philosophy can not be made unless these two existences a reproven. Cogito is the contemplating and God is the creator existence of this philosophy. The relationship between these two existences in Descartes’ metaphysics influences how knowledge and belief are considered. That is why the importance of relationship between these two existences in Descartes’ philosophy is discussed in this paper. How does human being, who does everything as a thinking existence, form his relationship with knowledge and belief. The objective of this study is to understand the subject of knowledge and belief, by evaluating factors liying behind them, in Descartes’ philosophy.

Keywords

Metaphysics, epistemology, cogito, God, substance, essence, knowledge, belief.

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