Week 4 Ideas and Reality

Question 1

Sensory Grasp

Answer 1

Our perception of ordinary objects may be obscure and confuse (e.g. change in phenomenological properties).
But objects possess all the properties which we clearly and distinctly understand, i.e. the essential, eternal and immutable properties.

Question 2

Essential properties of material objects

Answer 2

Are true of matter under each manifestation and all conceivable conditions: they transcend the qualia; they are senses-independent.
These properties can be cashed out extensionally and, as such can be characterized in mere geometrical terms. (See the mathematical model of knowledge).

Question 3

Res ExtensaIt

Answer 3

is the nature or essence of corporeal things (substantia corporealis).
It is a subject of predication, a bearer of attributes. Roughly, it is something we can say something about.(see the subject/predicate distinction which will be central in Leibniz’s metaphysics).
Subject Predicate
Apples are round/tasty/etc.
It is independent and can stand on its own. It is independent of anything except God.

Question 4

An idea

Answer 4

is reflexive (self-referential)The holder of the idea is aware/conscious of this very idea in so long as s/he entertains it.

Question 5

Meta-Idea

Answer 5

reflexive character of an idea does not prevent one to have an idea about a given idea (a meta-idea)

Question 6

Introspection

Answer 6

The true understanding of reality requires the mind to turn on itself and abstract from all information gained from the senses.

Question 7

Innate Ideas

Answer 7

The possession of an idea needs a cause. Thus adventitious ideas are causes by the senses, while an innate idea is causes by God.

Question 8

Awareness of Ideas

Answer 8

A child (untrained mind) faces difficulties to grasp the innate true ideas because her mind is flooded with bodily stimulus preventing the inward look which ultimately allows the grasping of the true ideas.

Question 9

Three Kind of Ideas

Answer 9

1. Innate
2. Adventitious
   They They come from an external source. This does not necessarily mean from the physical world (i.e., the idea of God).
3. Fictional
   They are made up or invented

Question 10

the Ontological Thesis of the Double Existence

Answer 10

“Perceptions,” or impressions that represent bodies to us; and “objects,” the bodies that are represented by (and in that sense are the “objects” of) our impressions.