What best describes the counterargument of an essay?

Answer 1

First, you have your claim. For example, Descartes wanted to know if doubting was a way to reliable knowledge. He used this argument form to show that it was. First, he assumed what his "opposition" the empiricists would argue about what could be doubted, such as dreams, illusions, the senses, and then, what if you could doubt everything? If so, then the opposition would have proven that doubting does not lead to certain knowledge. Descartes' refutation is the "I think, therefore, I am," part. There were two things he could not doubt, himself as existing and thinking. This proof of not being able to doubt two things refutes his opposition's argument that you could doubt everything. There are at least two things he could not doubt, so the case for everything was refuted. In both cases, the opposition and refutation, the person has to think of both sides. But both sides should be obvious. Descartes was a rationalist, so his opponents would have empirical arguments. Darwin was an evolutionist, so his opponents would be creationists, and so on. . . .