short stories with tragic endings

Knowledge Versus Doubt: Descartes First MeditationUntitled part

René Descartes searches for a perspective associated with reality. To do this, Descartes becomes naïve, riding himself of all preconceived notions and beliefs formed though out his life. Finding foundational truth in his beliefs meant he first had to doubt everything. In doing so, he brings his own ability to doubt into question. However, he concludes that if he can doubt, then he must exist as a thinking being – "I think therefore I am." (Descartes)

Descartes conclude only propositions that are beyond all doubt can be considered knowledge. This is true, and I agree. If one still breathes and one is still here, one is still alive. Since one is, beyond all doubt, alive then one is not dead. This is a fundamental truth.

Knowledge versus doubt can be translated into life versus death, whereas life is knowledge and death is doubt. There is a distinguishable difference on the peripheral, just black is not white. In the center, however, they are one – yin and yang, respectively.

Alan Watts gives the example saying a liar, a conman, can prove black is white. In a certain sense, white is black – if one takes the word 'is' to mean 'implies.' Picture a mountain; there is a south side and a north side. Yang is illustrative for the sunny side – south, and yin is shady side – north. Watts explains, there cannot be a one sided mountain. Black implies white; death implies life; doubt implies knowledge.

Viktor Frankl, in Man's Search for Meaning, depicts his experience at Auschwitz. Frankl's background granted him the opportunity to act as a doctor, thus avoiding the gas chambers. During his time he documented people; finding two different types of individuals. First, those which have given up on life, no purpose to keep going, suicidal, dead in the most true form. Second, those which have a purpose, some hope for the future or for a loved one, passionate, alive in the most pure form. Frankl's experience gives notion that where pure evil exists, there is still good. Evil implies good – it is a choice.

Descartes concluded he has knowledge of his existence because he has the ability to doubt is existence. It is his choice to doubt, thus if he has that free-will to doubt, then his free-will must be choice. This free-will of choice Descartes interprets as his existences. He is conscious, thus he is not unconscious.

Works Cited

Descartes, Rene, and John Veitch. The Meditations of Descartes. Lightning Source, 2010.

Frankl, Viktor E., et al. Man's Search for Meaning. Beacon Press, 2006.

Watts, Alan. The Book: on the Taboo against Knowing Who You Are. Vintage Books, 1989.