Descartes: 3 elements to his method of doubt

• Descartes was on a personal quest to discover the fundamental nature of the universe and human beings, to unify science
• he has no way of knowing which of his beliefs are really true
• must start afresh by subjecting his beliefs to a test of doubt
• no time to test every belief as that would be an endless task
• must go to the root, the principles upon what all opinions rest
• principles that survive the test of doubt will become the new foundation for knowledge

Descartes method  --->  Certainty through the rejection of the uncertain -->  use doubt explicitly and systematically as a tool to reach certainty

• 3 elements to his method: doubt, sort, reconstruct
• doubt --> reasonable and systematic --> not only is it logically possible for us to doubt but the stronger claim that it is reasonable to doubt
•  sort --> doubt functions as a sorting agent --> like emptying a barrel of apples throwing out the rotten ones --> beliefs that survive the Method of doubt are worthy of being kept because they are clear and trustworthy
• reconstruct --> These doubt tested beliefs are then used to reconstruct our knowledge --> they are the secure and certain foundation for rebuilding of knowledge --> certainty through rejection of the uncertain