Reference no: EM133346456

Questions: We saw very different ways of answering this question from René Descartes (a rationalist) and John Locke (an empiricist).

1) Having now familiarized yourself with the positions of Descartes and Locke, whose view do you side with more? Do we primarily gain knowledge about the world by way of rational reflection or via our senses? Explain why you've come to this conclusion, and what if any effect the readings from Descartes and Locke have played in your thinking about this question.

2) Some philosophers--like Descartes--have proposed that epistemology is "first philosophy," reasoning that before we can start any inquiry into topics like those found in metaphysics, ethics, political philosophy, etc., we must first settle the question of what knowledge in those domains would even look like. Notice how this conception of "first philosophy" seemingly differs from that of Aristotle, as we saw in Topic 1, who, if you recall, considers metaphysics to be the "divine science" and the primary domain of philosophical inquiry. Having now reached the end of this course, and gotten some philosophy under your belt, stop and consider whether you side with Aristotle or Descartes. Give your reasons.