ent that we could not be certain that the intellect alone perceives the material world. Let us look at the “Wax Argument.” If one were to place wax in its form, straight from the comb, and wax in its melted form side by side, a person not knowing this would not be able to perceive the melted form to be wax. It would take closer examination, with our senses, to determine the melted form to be wax. Such as touching the wax and feeling the sensation of it hardening on our fingertips and examining it more closely with our sight. One may also say that we might use our memories to remember the sensation of melted wax. On can remember the sensation of hot wax from a candle, when dropped on the skin and how the wax feels once it has hardened. Again, one might conclude that it is not the intellect alone that perceives the wax, but possibly a combination of the senses, memory, and the intellect. Someone being a scepitc might also say it is possible that the wax itself is sending us the idea. There is no way to be certain.Descartes demonstrates how the ideas of the mind are more attune to finding knowledge, than the senses. “What is this piece of wax which is perceived only by the mind” (22)? Descartes comes to the understanding that even though the wax has changed its form, that it is “flexible” and “mutable,” it is the same wax. Although he previously thought that the understanding of the wax came from the perceptions of seeing, touching or imagining, he now believes that to be false. “Rather it is an inspection on the part of the mind alone” (22). The inspection can be confused and imperfect at first, but on further investigation the mind arranges the data, coming to a clear and distinct understanding. Descartes believes that, “this process depends on how closely I pay attention to the things” (22). He poses the example of looking out the window and observing ...
