René Descartes: Rationalism, Doubt, and the Foundations of Philosophy

Have you ever wondered how we can be certain of what we know, or how the mind relates to the physical body? René Descartes revolutionized Western thought by questioning the very foundations of knowledge, setting the stage for both modern philosophy and the scientific revolution. In this structured, text-based course, you will journey from Descartes' radical skepticism to his famous conclusion, "Cogito, ergo sum." You will gain a deep understanding of his rationalist methodology, his arguments for the existence of the mind, and how his ideas continue to shape modern debates in cognitive science and artificial intelligence. What you'll learn: - Understand the historical context of seventeenth-century philosophy and the rise of modern science. - Apply Descartes' method of systematic doubt to analyze the reliability of human perception. - Explore the "Cogito" argument and its implications for subjective certainty and self-awareness. - Examine Cartesian dualism and the enduring mind-body problem in the context of modern cognitive science. - Analyze Descartes' rationalist arguments for the existence of God and the external world. - Evaluate the lasting legacy of Cartesian thought on contemporary debates about consciousness and artificial intelligence. The course begins with foundational concepts, defining key terminology in epistemology and metaphysics before guiding you through Descartes' major written works, including the Meditations on First Philosophy. You will engage with clear textual analysis and structured thought experiments that bring these classic arguments to life. Designed for absolute beginners, this course requires no prior background in philosophy. Start your reading journey today and master the intellectual foundations of the modern world.