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On Being Immoral in a Dream

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 January 2009

Gareth B. Matthews
Gareth B. Matthews
Affiliation:
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
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Extract

What is often called Descartes' dream problem (‘How do I know that I am not now dreaming?’) should perhaps be called Plato's dream problem instead. Certainly it can be found in Plato's Theaetetus at 158b–c. It can also be found in Cicero (Academica 2.27.88) and, through Cicero's influence, in much of the work of St Augustine.

Type
Articles
Information
Philosophy , Volume 56 , Issue 215 , January 1981 , pp. 47 - 54
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Philosophy 1981

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References

1 De trinitate 15.12.21; The Trinity, McKenna, Stephen (trans.) (Washington, DC: Catholic University Press, 1963), 481Google Scholar.

2 Confessions, Pine-Coffin, R. S. (trans.) (New York: Penguin Books, 1961), 233–234 (10.30)Google Scholar.

3 Against the Academicians, Garvey, Mary P. (trans.) (Milwaukee: Marquette University Press, 1957) 69 (3.11.26)Google Scholar.

4 Commentary on the Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Kavanagh, Denis J. (trans.) (Washington, DC: Catholic University Press of America, 1951), 52–53 (1.12.33–4)Google Scholar.

5 Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, V, Saint Augustin: Anti-Pelagian Writings, Schaff, Philip (ed.) (New York: Christian Literature Co., 1887), 161 (3.6)Google Scholar.

6 p. 234.

7 Meditations on First Philosophy, Lafleur, Laurence J. (trans.) (Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1960), 55 (AT VII 46, HR I 175)Google Scholar.

8 Letter to Elizabeth, 1 September 1645, Descartes: Philosophical Letters, Kenny, Anthony (trans.) (Oxford University Press, 1970), 167–168Google Scholar.

9 This is a shortened version of a paper presented at the annual Classical Philosophy Colloquium at Princeton University, 9 December 1978.