Fundamental Philosophy, Vol. 1 (of 2)

"Fundamental Philosophy, Vol. 1 (of 2)" by Jaime Luciano Balmes is a deep exploration of core ideas about knowledge and reality back in the 1800s. The book asks big questions about what we can truly know and how we know it, looking at different ways of thinking from other philosophers. Balmes really wants to show that we need to believe some things are certain before we can even start to understand the world through science or philosophy. He begins by stressing that certainty isn't just helpful, it's necessary, and then questions whether we can truly live without it. He also looks at how our senses affect what we think is real, explaining that while our senses give us information, they don't give us all the answers. This first part sets the scene for him to dig into bigger ideas about consciousness and reality later on.