I've chosen to discuss Descartes' Famous Wax Example in a separate entry because I felt it is one of the most compelling arguments within this portion of Meditations. Although it has been discussed in several other blogs; I would like to discuss it in relation to modern day life & personal expectations.
Summary Of Example: Overall, D wants his readers to understand that our belief and understanding of all things comes from our own perceived judgments of those things at our time of observation. Our cultures have associated descriptive meanings to those items in the form of their names; but to be recognized as such they must feature certain distinguishable traits that contribute to the same conclusion. All human senses contribute to the attainment of such information & the construction of this type of judgment. But depending on our personal evaluation of this information, each person may comprehend a different definition of the same article or item.
D uses the wax because all people understand that wax is the product of a melted candle, so therefore the mind decides that prior to its melted state, the item being observed must clearly be wax/a candle. Regardless of the fact that the initial shape of the candle is no longer intact, we are able to judge that indeed the recognized puddle of wax was was some point an untarnished, unmodified Candle of Wax- as it was expected to be.
Class Notes (Feb 11,2008) Regarding "The Wax Example"
-Properties that are first observed may change, but how do you know it's the same piece of wax?
-It can't be judged by the senses because everything has changed, but you know it's wax because you judge it to be so.
*A subtle, but IMPORTANT distinction: despite the senses of observation report the item as being altered, the mind judges the information & determines its meaning (in contrast with seeing it in the same form)
-Knowledge is gathered by stripping away information you cannot believe and slowly adding to your own discovery of which information is true.
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I thought that this entire concept could be applicable in the sense of interpersonal reaction & expectations. Each person, depending on their background & experience, will expect different things from any new relationship they create. Judgment is passed on new friends, and new opportunities based on what we observe from these situations, in addition to the preconceived concepts we hold to be true regarding such things.
Depending on the judgments we make, this allows us to generate certain expectations as to the result of that behavior and closely associate the two in the future.
Personally, I feel this idea is exemplified when "dating someone new"- Upon meeting someone it is human nature to determine your initial attraction or interest in that person depending on their physical nature, style of dress & outward demeanor, etc. Within the first few minutes (if not seconds) immediate decisions are made regarding the quality of this new friend or boy/girlfriend, because of the things we can sense. As you progress into a serious relationship with this prospect, you will continue to make decisions & based reactions generated through your own observations, and altered through your own previous experience. Specifically, if you have been mistreated in a relationship in the past, you will constantly question your partners ability to avoid making the same mistake. If you had trust issues, or commitment issues in a previous relationship those experiences will likely influence relationships in the future because of your predetermined judgments regarding similar items/actions.
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Although we shouldn't let our minds control our ability for reason and reconsideration the basis of human understanding is derived from the things we see, smell, hear, taste & touch. Senses allow establishment of definitive information in all states, because of the basic fundamental meaning of each item/article.
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