An Analysis of Philosophical Explanation

A detailed Summary of An Analysis of Philosophical Explanation

Plato and Descartes both concern themselves with the notion of rationalism, though they approach the concept of rationalism and knowledge acquisition on different levels. Of the two Plato makes a much more convincing argument, suggesting that though rational deduction is necessary for knowledge acquisition, sensory perception does play some significant role in one's interpretation of events. His ideas are based on logical supposition. To the rationalist intuition and deduction are necessary to help identify how mankind can believe propositions related to a subject area. Based on this theory intuition becomes a form of "rational insight" whereby all things are knowable or become knowledgeable through intuition and rational deduction (Markie, 2004). Deduction is the process through which people can derive their conclusions via valid argumentation regarding the validity of a given subject area or object. Intuition and deduction according to Descartes and Plato, "provide us with knowledge a priori, which is to say knowledge gained independently of sensory experience" ( Markie, 2004).

Descartes suggests that much of what mankind knows he knows as a result of information gathered from the senses (Descartes, 171

Berkeley's argument is more convincing in that he supposes that all things are interconnected and hence interrelated to one another. His arguments are much more valid from the point of personal opinion, in that in everyday reality it seems that all things in some manner or another are interconnected and related, including ones interpretations of events or circumstances. His assumptions are based on logical analysis and inquiry however. While most philosophers have focused on identifying one aspect or reality that is necessary to explain realism and connect things, Berkeley suggests that multiple factors are interrelated and that to acquire true understanding one must first understand this. Everything in the Universe according to Berkeley is related, "everything we see, hear, feel or any way perceive... being a sign of effect of the power of God" (Berkeley, 1710). Berkeley attempts to suggest that people understand how everything including one's perceptions are interconnected.

Much like Descartes Plato asserts that knowledge is something that must be logically deduced or rationalized in order to be valid. Plato suggests that knowledge arrives from certain basic principles that included knowledge of what is good (Burnyeat, 1998). Plato suggests that that which is good is capable of revealing to the mind what is intelligible vs. what is false or irrational (Burnyeat, 1998). Plato claims in the Republic that "a man determined to discover" must use rational thought to lead to something long lasting or solid, determining the reasons that sensory inputs are used but also suggesting that sensory input must often be discarded (Rep 513 A-521 c) (Burnyeat, 1998:3; Davies, 2001: 76). Plato suggests more so than Descartes that God is the source of Good and that sense perception is a tool that mankind can use to uncover knowledge and understand assumption about that which is real and that which is false. Plato asserts that people can use sense perception in a valid way to discern between false and real objects. Plato and Descartes both argue that reason is useful for discerning the unique or

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Approximate Word count = 1417
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Science