the existence of known objects, rationalism relates to a mathematical deduction as its theoretical base while empiricism relies on scientific induction (Radical, 2001). Rene Descartes (1596-1650) is the philosopher most

he will never bring it about that I am nothing so long as I think that I am something. So after considering everything very thoroughly, I must finally conclude that

is still whole. This train of thought, in turn, caused him to postulate that he might have been deceived by some "evil genius," who influenced his senses to provide

reality. This system of checks and balances helps to equalize what man truly knows and that which he thinks he knows, serving as "forever an inherent aspiration of the

of the book. The man had read the book many times over, but was convinced that no number of readings of Descartes words could ever produce a clear understanding,

Speaking of this joke, however, would the context of "I drink, therefore I am," then have the same certainty and impact that Descartes offers as "I think, therefore

which the Steps attempt to establish. Consequently, Descartes has presented a number of philosophical problems, among the most interesting of course is the mind-body problem, which have captivated the

the mind is complex and is used for a variety of things. It is something quite functional and definable biologically, but there is a suggestion of a spiritual nature. There

leading one to come to the ultimate conclusion that the mind is really distinct from ones body by applying his theory of the Other Mind. II. THE OTHER MIND

separate and different from each other. While Descartes acknowledges that the body and the mind/soul are intimately conjoined, in Meditation IV, he argues that his identity is completely contained

or less a clean slate. From what can be determined, though both Hume and Locke were empiricists, they differed in their interpretation of how experience shapes humankind. Descartes also believed

traces the major philosophical trends regarding knowledge between Descartes and Berkeley, and with primary purpose of differentiating the views of Berkeley and Descartes toward knowledge and God. Descartes posited

knowledge. Step one is that of other minds, a concept I define as the very essence of spiritual and physical being, inasmuch as individuals must travel various avenues in

of metaphysics in a very direct way in that epistemology tells us how certain we can be of metaphysical assumptions about the nature of reality. In Descartes work, he takes

he went on to demonstrate why the things he believed were in fact true, but he started from a position of doubt. The movie does the same thing: it leaves