Descartes' second meditation question?

Question

How to solve the following objection I have come up with to Descartes' argument that thinking & reasoning is more reliable than sensory-perception? I know that what I say below isn't really what he means but I can't quite figure out a response:

If sensory perceptions may be false and unreliable, why is the mind not subject to the same level of dubiousness? For example, a person may be in an altered state of consciousness under the influence of drugs and perceive things that are not really there.

Descartes' reply??

Answer 1

If you know that what you say isn't really what he means, then how is it an objection to what he really means? I thought that was an odd sentence and I am not sure if that is what you really mean or not. :)

If I remember correctly, Descartes did think that it was possible for the mind to be fooled. I think he admitted the possibility of a demon confusing someone so that they became mistkane about, say, the basic rules of logc or mathematics. His point was that one thing the mind could not be mistaken about was that it exists, because in order for it to be confused or mistaken, it must exist.

Of course, it is doubtful that he can get out of this extreme skepticism. His reasoning his way out of it (and to God) does, even if we admit that it seems to be sound reasoning, rely on reasoning which, as you point out, we could be mistaken about.

Answer 2

I think with the given example all will lead to sensory-perception as under the influence ones sensory become dull we start seeing things in abstract and so will be our thoughts, however the argument of "more reliable than sensory-perception" may refer to a person not under the influence, also the use of the term (more reliable) does not negate sensory perception as a method.

Answer 3

As I recall, Descartes' had imagined a demon with magical powers. The purpose of the demon was to use his powers to trick Descartes into believing something that was not true. From there, Descartes reasoned that by doubting all assertions first, and then only accepting the simplest truths (he created Cartesian geometry) truths least likely to be doubted, ---that was the only way to ground what could be believed with certainty. In other words, doubt is an assertion we cannot doubt.

Answer 4

The individuals senses and intuition are powered by his foundational intelligence, reasoning and sound judgment.

Intuitive and sensory perception is a gift of the deeply spiritual, highly intelligent metaphysical thinkers.

Liken the individual to a computer, some have higher powers, swifter expansive search facilities, expedient download timing, greater access to a broader wealth of information and are installed with software able to construct summaries, theories and analysis efficiently giving the user greater time and application of wit and imagination.

Answer 5

I'm not quite sure I understand the question, but let me try.

Descartes may reply that it is irrelevant whether we are under the influence of any medication, but rather that we could always be in an altered state of consciousness. Or perhaps that we may not be in an altered state, but yet we still perceive things that are not really there.

Is this what you had grasped at? His universal doubt led pretty deep, and there was only one thing he could not refute. Anything besides that one can therefore be challenged, no?