The purpose of Descartes' "thought experiment" with the lump of wax was to show that:
A) the senses, in fact, do not lie.
B) the evidence of the senses sometimes agrees with the insights of reason.
C) the wax has no permanent properties.
D) the wax has infinite properties.
E) knowledge must be founded on reason rather than sense perception.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Descartes' thought experiment with the lump of wax was used to illustrate that sensory information can be deceiving and that knowledge must rely on reason rather than sensory perception alone. The wax changes its physical properties when it is melted, which proves that sensory information alone cannot provide a full understanding of the object. Instead, reason must be used to understand the true nature and essence of the object.

The Purpose of Descartes' "Thought Experiment" with the Lump of Wax