Descartes (Discourse VI) Social Sciences Essay Paper (Essay Sample)

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Descartes (Discourse VI)
In Discourse VI, Descartes says that modern science will enable man to “master and possess nature” (p. 35). In this claim, Descartes makes an argument that practical philosophy is much superior to the speculative philosophy taught in schools. He is convinced that a man’s dedication, his time, efforts, resources and thinking capacity to science would eliminate most challenges humanity faces. In addition, Descartes believes that modern science and technology allow people to master the forces behind the universe. Descartes asserts that if people were to master the forces behind the fire, water, stars, the sun, and all the other terrestrial bodies in the universe, people would have truly mastered the universe (Discourse VI 35). I intend to contest this claim by showing that all three of his arguments fail on their own merit. More specifically, I will argue that even if Descartes believes in advanced science, there are no guarantees that humanity could conquer all the barriers to truly master and possess the universe. In addition, I claim that life should not be easy, which undermines Descartes’ practical philosophy.
In attempting to master and possess nature, people might encounter several obstacles. Descartes argues that people’s understanding of the forces behind the actions of the sun, stars, moon, fire, water, and all the other bodies that surround the Earth, can make them masters and possessors of the universe (Discourse VI 35). This would enable humanity to develop devices that would end most of the world’s challenges. If, indeed, through the exploration of life and modern science people could devise solutions to the problems humanity today faces, it would be a worthy adventure to master and possess nature. Mastering nature would help eliminate various epidemics in the modern world, such as cancer, Ebola, HIV, diabetes, and hypertension among others. Most people around the world have been inflicted with or affected by these epidemics, undergoing unimaginable suffering and pain. The desire to eliminate such suffering and restore dignity to humanity should be the driving force of the man’s determination to master and possess the universe.