Exploring the Epistemology"s of Rene Descartes and David Hume.

             Beginning in the 17th century, traditional ideas were being questioned by.

             the new beginnings of science. Although many of the accomplishments during this.

             "scientific revolution" were in astronomy and mechanics, very important advances.

             along the whole borders of knowledge were also taking place. The revival of.

             skepticism, brought about by these new concepts, had many philosophers seeking.

             answers to questions such as: Do we know anything at all, and do the sciences give.

             us knowledge of reality? Rene Descartes, whom many consider to be the father of.

             modern philosophy, sought to kill skepticism for good. He gave his Cartesian quest.

             for certainty the center stage in his epistemology, or theory of knowledge. .

             Following Descartes, later in the 18th century, David Hume also broke away from.

             the religious dogma of the day to explain knowledge on a non theological basis. .

             However, His epistemology dismisses Cartesian methods as both unworkable and.

             barren. Instead, he adopts his own theories which counters the ideas of his of.

             predecessor, and casts a different view on the levels of certainty humans can.

             obtain.

             The Content and Objects of Knowledge--Rene Descartes .

             According to Descartes, we each contain within ourselves the criterion for truth.

             and knowledge. Although he does not reject the idea of God as a creator, he believed that.

             the responsibility of obtaining knowledge rests on the individual and no longer on.

             medieval ideals such as priest, popes, or kings. Descartes believed that in order to obtain.

             knowledge, there must be a rational method for reaching the truth, and the use of the.

             senses, or any experience can not be a reliable source. He also believed that this rationality.

             is universal, and therefore, the same for every individual. He believed that a priori, or.

             innate ideas existed within the soul, and in order to test their certainty, his reasoning.