University Essay: A Critique of the Cartesian Dream Argument

This essay offers a comprehensive critique of Descartes' Cartesian Dream Argument, a cornerstone of his philosophical system. It begins by outlining the formal structure of the argument, which questions the reliability of sensory perception by drawing parallels between waking experiences and dreams. The essay then explores objections raised by philosophers such as John Locke and Thomas Hobbes, who challenge the argument's premises. It considers potential responses to these objections, examining the nuances of distinguishing between dreams and reality. Finally, the essay evaluates the soundness of the Dream Argument, concluding that while it is not entirely without flaws, it serves as a significant contribution to Cartesian methodology by initiating a process of constructive skepticism. The essay highlights the importance of Descartes' work in shaping modern philosophy and epistemology.

Running head: CARTESIAN DREAM ARGUMENT: A CRITIQUE
Cartesian Dream Argument: A Critique
Student’s Name
University
Author’s note

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CARTESIAN DREAM ARGUMENT: A CRITIQUE
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Formal Layout of the Argument Being Critiqued...........................................................................2
Objections........................................................................................................................................4
Possible Responses to Objections....................................................................................................4
Determination of the Soundness of the Argument..........................................................................4
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................5
End Notes.........................................................................................................................................6

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CARTESIAN DREAM ARGUMENT: A CRITIQUE
Introduction
Rene Descartes, often referred as the “Father of Modern Philosophy”, was the notable
French philosopher, mathematician and a scientist who furthered the course of modern
philosophy with his ground-breaking theories on epistemology and metaphysics. In his
Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes set out his philosophical endeavor with the intention
of seeking infallible principles, much like the mathematical axioms, which would serve as the
foundation for the entire philosophical knowledge. He argued; by the merit of truth inherent in
the fundamental principles of philosophy, the theories deduced from them would also has to be
true. Therefore, Descartes started with the process of doubting every possible knowledge. In the
due course of his method of doubt, he opined that none of our sensory or rational knowledge is
reliable, for they could be doubted for their authenticity. In Meditation I, he opines “how
numerous were the false opinions that in my youth I had taken to be true, and thus how doubtful
were all those that I had subsequently built upon them” (13)1. This claim of Descartes has been
logically laid out in his Dream Argument.

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Formal Layout of the Argument Being Critiqued
For Descartes, the criterion of truth was clarity and distinctness. To elucidate, he held that
what is clear and distinct to our mind could not be doubted. According to this belief, Descartes
advocated to doubt all or sensory perceptions, as it seems complex and vague at times. By doing
so, he maintained that all our perceptions are dubitable, although they seem to be true. He
elucidated the claim with the analogy of dream state.
(1) I cannot distinguish with certainty being awake from being asleep.
(2) If I cannot distinguish with certainty being awake from being asleep, then I have reason to
doubt all of my sensory beliefs.
(3) So, I have reason to doubt all of my sensory beliefs (Meditations I)2.
We often dream of things and events which seem to be vivid and real. However, as soon
as we wake up, we find that that does not correspond to reality. Hence, according to Descartes, it
is nor prudent to rely on sensory perceptions for seeking the truth. He further explains, in one of
his dreams, he finds himself sitting beside a fireplace in his room. And it seemed like he could
almost feel the warmth, much like he would feel while awake. However, there was no fire in
reality. Besides, the warmth felt during his sleep was not as vivid as he would have felt it while
awake. Hence, the feeling, i.e. sensory perception during his dream cannot be considered as true.
He states: “Every sensory experience I have ever thought I was having while awake I can also
think of myself as sometimes having while asleep” (Meditation VI, AT 7:77, CSM 2:53)3.
Similarly, he argues, every form of sensory perception is dubitable, and our entire state of

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perceived reality could be compared to a prolonged dreaming state, thus rendering it as
dubitable.
Objections
To Descartes’ argument, philosophers John Locke and Thomas Hobbes have separately
provided refuting responses. Both of them hold that the basic premise of Dream Argument
involve an evident fallacy. Hobbes argued that dreams could indeed be discerned from reality by
lack of absurdity found in the latter. Although a person while dreaming cannot tell dream from
reality, the same person could distinctly identify the waking state, as there is no trace of
absurdity4. Furthermore, Locke fortifies the critique by providing the comparison of real pain and
dream pain. He asks Descartes to imagine being in the fire while asleep, as opposed to imagine
the physical pain if he is really in fire. Evidently, Locke’s claim that we could not feel physical
pain while in dreams present a potent counter-argument to Descartes’s argument5.
Possible Responses to Objections
Although Descartes has been criticized for his use of the term ‘certainty’ while
distinguishing dreams from reality, it has been argued in his favour that dreams do create
subjectively indistinguishable experiences as compared to waking experiences. To elucidate, the
distinction was not actually between dream state and waking state, rather the inability to identify
the reality of feelings.
Determination of the Soundness of the Argument
As mentioned in the critique, the first premise of the Dream Argument is not tenable. The
second premise and the following conclusion, deduced from the first premise, are hereby
indefensible as well. Besides, the second premise extends to a rather far-fetched assumption, as

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inability to distinguish waking state from dreams may not be the limitation of sensory belief
alone. Hence, the argument in itself is not free from fallacies, although from a scholarly
perspective, it contributes a great significance to Cartesian methodology.
Conclusion
It can be concluded from the above discussion that the Dream Argument is not a sound
deduction, neither does it qualify the test of criticism. However, it cannot be discarded in
entirety, as the main purpose of the argument was not to reject the possibility of sensory
perception, rather it is just a beginning point for Descartes’ constructive skepticism.

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End Notes
1. Cottingham, John. "Descartes: Meditations on First Philosophy: With Selections from the
Objections and Replies." (1996).
2. Cottingham, John. "Descartes: Meditations on First Philosophy: With Selections from the
Objections and Replies." (1996).
3. Cottingham, John. "Descartes: Meditations on First Philosophy: With Selections from the
Objections and Replies." (1996).
4. Von Leyden, W. "Descartes and Hobbes on Waking and Dreaming." Revue
Internationale de Philosophie (1956): 95-101.
5. Suter, Ronald. "The dream argument." American Philosophical Quarterly 13, no. 3
(1976): 185-194.