When you think about it, Scientifically we really dont know anything.......

[Mazty]

GameOver22 said:

Mazty said:

Kantor said:
Well of course not. We don't KNOW anything in any field because technically it's impossible to ever know anything. We could all just be deluding ourselves and making the exact same logical error.

But that way of thinking is silly and pointless and so we avoid it.

The important thing is that science has given us a far better idea of what surrounds us than we would otherwise have, certainly far better than what religion has given us. And you don't need a thermometer to measure temperature; it would just melt if it went anywhere near the sun.

? Why is it impossible to know anything? From a scientific viewpoint, that's just wrong, and from a philosophical one, it's still wrong. 

Kind of an odd statement given that you cited Descartes previously. Its not that hard to see how Descartes could take his skepticism one step futher and deny all knowledge.

"I think therefore I am" is not a fundamental truth. It actually assumes a foundational logical truth....the principle of non-contradiction. All Descartes has to do is question whether the principle of non-contradiction is true, which he did with every other possible piece of knowledge. After questioning this principle, his skepcticism would result in him concluding that knowledge is impossible.

Not really. Descartes determined that there was always one foundational truth - i think therefore I am. Regardless of skepticism, that always remains true in the face of all arguments. No matter the level of skepticism, that will always hold true.