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 Descartes’ primary philosophical quest was for certainty. He wanted to know what could be known without any doubt. He searched for the ultimate foundation that all knowledge rested upon. He began his quest with skepticism and ended in a philosophy of knowledge based entirely on reason.
In his work, “Meditations,” Descartes documented his method of systematic skepticism, or “Cartesian Doubt.” He first doubted his senses, realizing that sometimes the senses lie. For example, a man might see what he thought was a pile of leaves by the side of the road, and then as he got closer, see that it was actually an old sack.
Descartes then doubted whether he was awake or asleep. Life might be one long dream and nothing but an illusion. He also could not be sure that 1 + 1 = 2, because if God existed and was a deceiver, then He might deceive him into believing that 1 + 1 = 2 when it was really 3. In the end, he could not even be sure he existed. He said, “I am constrained to admit that there is nothing in what I formerly believed to be true that I cannot somehow doubt.” (Quoted in, W. Raeper & L. Smith, Brief Guide to Ideas)
He recounted the wintry day he spent in front of a stove systematically doubting everything. He said, “Because our senses sometimes deceive us, I must suppose that nothing is as it appears. How do I know I am sitting here by the stove? I cannot be certain; I could be dreaming or hallucinating. A wicked demon might be tricking me. The only thing I cannot doubt is that I think something, even if it is thinking I am dreaming or being tricked. That’s it! I think, therefore, I am! Behold the long-sought rock on which the edifice of knowledge must be built.” (Quoted in, Richard Osborne, Philosophy For Beginners, p. 72)
Although Descartes was an orthodox Roman Catholic, he built his entire system of knowledge on skepticism and the rejection of any authority except human reason. That is why he deserves the title, “The Father of Modern Philosophy.”
How do we answer Descartes?
The Bible teaches that man was created in the image of God, and therefore he yearns for certainty of knowledge. Descartes’ quest is the quest of everyman: how can I know for sure?
There is a problem, however, with that question. Certain knowledge is only possible if I can know everything that can be known, for there is always the chance that new information will contradict what I thought I knew. With a universe so vast and diverse, and with so many things to be known, I can never possibly know all things. But if I cannot know everything, I cannot be sure I know anything.
So how can I attain certain knowledge?
The only way I can have certainty as a human being is for the following three things to be true.
1. I must know someone who knows everything.
2. That person must be trustworthy.
3. That person must be willing to tell me what he knows.
Is there someone in the universe who knows everything? The Bible says there is.
“For He knows everything.” (I John 3:20)
Is He trustworthy? The Bible says He is.
“O Sovereign Lord, Your words are trustworthy.” (II Samuel 7:28)
Is He willing to tell me what He knows? The Bible says He will.
“God has given us His Spirit so we can know the things He has freely given us.” (I Corinthians 2:12)
So only a Christian can be sure that his knowledge is certain because he knows someone who knows everything, that Person is trustworthy, and He will communicate what He knows to him.
Therefore, the cornerstone of a Christian philosophy of knowledge is that a self-revealing God has freely communicated Himself to His creation. Or, to quote Francis Schaeffer, “He is there, and He is not silent.”
That is the answer Descartes sought.
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