Paradox

276 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PARADOX“After repeated efforts, much stumbling, and many falls, welearn to walk; and it is in a similar manner that we learn toreason.” Philosophers tend to arbitrarily elevate reason abovethe other faculties of perception and common sense. Reidthinks reason can never override common sense:The sceptic asks me, Why do you believe the existence ofthe external object which you perceive? This belief, sir, isnone of my manufacture; it came from the mint of Nature;it bears her image and superscription; and, if it is not right,the fault is not mine: I even took it upon trust, and withoutsuspicion. Reason, says the sceptic, is the only judge oftruth, and you ought to throw off every opinion and everybelief that is not grounded on reason. Why, sir, should Ibelieve the faculty of reason more than that of perception?—theycame both out of the same shop, and weremade by the same artist; and if he puts one piece of falseware into my hands, what should hinder him fromputting another?(1764, VI, xx)Philosophers who follow the Way of Ideas are guilty of adouble standard. They meekly accept the deliverances ofintrospection, yet they eye the deliverances of perception andmemory with suspicion. In truth, the deliverances of introspectionseem more doubtful. We have trouble attending tothe workings of our own minds. After all, sensations aredesigned to aid perception. They are not designed to beobjects of perception in their own right.Socrates said that we should follow the argument whereverit leads. Descartes supports Socrates with an analogy. Ifa traveler is lost in a forest, then he should continue to walk