Department of History and Philosophy
North South University
Summer- 2021; Midterm Test; Section-7
1. (a) There are philosophers who claim that philosophy is a practical subject. Do you agree with this
claim? Defend your position regarding the matter.
(b) What are the similarities and dissimilarities between Philosophy of Religion and Theology? Explain. 7
2. (a) Explain Descartes’ Dream Argument.
Ans: Descartes has explain to us that many of our self-perception can be doubted based on sense
perception. All thought they can be doubted some of their belief is true and cannot be doubted by sense
perception.


I have raised my hand
I am sitting here now
If i say that I am doubtful about my self-sitting there or have raised my hand, common people will say I
am crazy or being joking. They will think kind of statement is worthless and I am being mad.
According to Descartes there is way of doubting kind of method too.
In his argument he says that, we cannot be sure or distinguish the fact that whether we are in dream
state or awake state. In dreams all of the feeling and our thought feel real like the awake state. But the
fact is true they are not true indeed. They may seem real to us but actually we are dreaming. Since we
cannot distinguish between the dream state and awake state, we cannot be certain that in time we are
not in dream state. It is confusing to the understand the real scenario. Sometimes there are things I will
perceive that will feel real to me but actually not. This creates a confusion situation that may create
perception that is false. Since I cannot distinguish between dream state and awake state I can think
wrongly that the thing I perceive now are real object but in reality it is not.
premise 1 if there no such to distinguish the awake state from the dream state, then one cannot know
that one is not in the dream state
Premise 2 there no sure sign to distinguish the awake state from dream state
Conclusion 1 one cannot know that one is not in the dream state now.
Premise 3 if one cannot know that one is not in the dream state now, one cannot know that whatever
one is perceive is true.
Premise 4 one cannot know that one is not in the dream state now.
Conclusion 2 one cannot know that whatever one perceives now is real or not
However there are some belief that cannot be considered doubtful by the above two arguments. They
are called the arguments from errors and dream arguments.
First of all whatever we see in dream states can be counterparts or the same thing of real world. Like I
see a table in the dream but in reality there table who is identical to the dream. So it can not be a
completely imaginary thing.
Even if we think that the table we saw in the dreams is imaginary the color of it cannot be made from
our imagination. We have already seen the color in awake state so it cannot be created by imagination
rather we are seeing something that we have already in the awake state.
(b) Determine the impacts of the four broad rules for self-guidance on the Cartesian strategy
Ans: Descartes laid down four Broad Rules for Self-guidance. This help us in daily life and impact us in
may way. These are:
(1) Do not accept anything as true unless it is not clearly known to be such.
As a philosopher we believe things that cannot be doubted. We looks for doubts to be fully precise
about it. If there is any scope for doubt or the judgment is not clear we should not take that as true.
(2) Divide up each of the difficulties under consideration into as many parts as possible.
In real life if there are problem that we face with difficulties and not easy to solve, such problems can be
divided with small part to make the solution easier for us. This way we can have courage to face more
difficult problem I our life.
(3) Commence with the simplest object (part of the issue in question) and ascend, step by
step, to the more complex.
According to it we should commence step by step like solving the the easier problem first. Then
commence for the other work. This creates courage one yourself to face the more complex one.
(4) In every case, make the enumeration so complete that might be assured that nothing
Was omitted.
Every problem need handle with utmost care. Following the rule we must not forget to investigation.
Top to bottom. This will help us to work fluently than others.