Descartes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Descartes - Essay Example because it is not possible to differentiate the experiences that we have while awake, and the experiences that we have while dreaming; for Descartes, it is possible that we are dreaming while thinking that we are awake. For this reason, therefore, the doubts that Descartes suggests in the dream argument are different and more extreme than the doubts that Descartes suggests in the senses argument; while in the sense argument Descartes argues that it is only some knowledge derived from the senses that can be doubted, in the dream argument Descartes argued and demonstrated that all sensory knowledge can be doubted. The evil demon argument is more extreme than either the sense or the dream argument. This is because, first, while the sense argument suggest that it is only some types of sensory knowledge that can be doubted, the evil demon argument suggest and demonstrate that all sensory knowledge can be doubted. Secondly, while the dream argument demonstrate that sensory knowledge can be doubted, it can reasonably be objected that some simple truths like the truths of mathematics and geometry cannot be doubted; on the other hand, the evil demon argument suggests that even the truths of mathematics and geometry can be doubted because these truths may be nothing but deceptions of an evil genius. While the evil demon argument can deceive Descartes in all his beliefs, the evil demon, however, cannot deceive Descartes into believing that he doesn’t exist. This is because for Descartes, existence is a pre-condition of doubting; according to Descartes, one should exist before doubting. For this reason, Descartes argued that, since he is able to doubt, this means that he exists. Descartes, therefore, concluded that the evil demon cannot deceive him into believing that he doesn’t exist. The main difficulty for Descartes’ philosophical project is accounting for how human body and human mind interact. In giving explanation to how human mind and human body interact,

Climate change in the past, today and future Essay

Climate change in the past, today and future - Essay Example Previously, little awareness and concern was attributed to the changing patterns in climate and the risk on human health populations associated with it. However, today with the continued urbanization and distancing of human life from the natural systems, reality has dawned that the world’s climate system is indeed an integral part of the complex of life-supporting processes, and, therefore, requires urgent measures in its maintenance and sustainability. With the world increasing economic development and growth, many of the natural systems coming under pressure from the increased populations (Githeko and Woodward, 2003). Asia has a significant increase in human population and currently the most populated continent in the world, an aspect that has resulted in a reduction of resource availability, forcing individuals to engage in activities that despite being beneficial to human remain short lived and significantly contribute towards increasing climatic change. The increased population contributes towards difficult environmental and socio-economic challenges, caused by the activities indicated above, which increase the production of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases prove, as the greatest challenge for the world today, and most especially in Asia. Concerns remain the reduction strategies of the greenhouse emissions to levels that would not interfere with the climate system (Ebi, Mearns, and Nyenzi, 1999). Asia as a continent is currently undergoing significant industrialization and, therefore, a producer of significant amounts of gases, including the greenhouse gases, released into the atmosphere without prior treatment. On average, the atmosphere shields the earth surface of up to 50% of sunlight rays. Additionally, greenhouse gases, which take up 2% of the atmosphere, also play a significant role in the absorption of the sunlight rays up to 17% (Ebi, Mearns, and Nyenzi, 1999). For the light reaching the earth’s surface, absorption takes place followed by