Descartes s Idea Of God - 888 Words

Descartes uses the trademark argument as a way to eventually prove that our clear and distinct ideas are true and real, but he follows a specifically in-line methodology to get to this conclusion first. To begin his argument, he says simply says that he clearly has an idea of God, but he quickly segues this into the point that everything of existence, including his idea of God, has a cause. So if everything that exists has a cause, and it is understood that something cannot come from nothing, where does this idea come from? Descartes goes then to say that ideas of every kind must be of the same reality rooted in the cause of the idea, or where it came from, that is in the effect of the idea, which is the mind having the perception of the idea or thing; this concept is independently called the Reality Principle. He says this more simply by portraying that if we know an idea, then the thing that caused the idea must always have the same reality to produce the idea itself; this concept, or argument, essentially proves God exists as the idea of God has no other way to come about other than through God himself. Descartes then proves that God is not a deceiver by showing that the beginning of anything must come from God, due, again, to the concept that ideas or objects cannot be consequent of nothingness or randomness, and that because truth is the base and beginning of all ideas and knowledge, deceit cannot be from God, as God is perfect and true and deceitfulness cannot existShow MoreRelatedDeception Is Incompatible With God1451 Words   |  6 Pages Why does Descartes think deception is incompatible with God? Descartes is implying that God is an entity that s entirely perfect--there isn t a flaw to Him and His actions are evident of that. With trickery or deception, both words have negative connotations to them. They imply some sort of lying or untruthful behavior. To indicate that there is a relationship between God and this untruthful behavior, an individual is also claiming that there is a flaw (or â€Å"imperfection†) in God. However, HeRead MoreWilliam Robertson Smith, A Scottish Orientalist, Old Testament1692 Words   |  7 PagesThe god can no more exist without his people than the nation without its god. This quote means that the amount of belief that people have on God reflects on how much hope God has for a nation. This quote ties into various discussions that have been going on for a long time, and that is whether or not God exists. A well known philosopher who shares his view on this argument would be Rene Descartes who says, I think therefore I am. This assertion has come to be known as the cogito. Descartes struggledRead MoreThomas Aquinas vs. Descarates Essays673 Words   |  3 Pagesphilosophers Thomas Aquinas’s and Rene Descartes used the method of ontological argument for the existence of God and used intuition and reason alone to get to each other’s theory. Rene Descartes wrote out several mediations, but the one we’re going to touch base on is meditation III that he wrote in the 1600’s; While Thomas Aquinas’s wrote his five proofs of God in 1270 that specifies God’s existence in each proof; the one that gives the best argument is the existence of God in his III proof. While both philosophersRead MoreDescartes Belief in God Essay1503 Words   |  7 PagesDescartes and God In his groundbreaking work, Meditations on First Philosophy, the French philosopher Rene Descartes lays the groundwork for many philosophical principles by attempting to â€Å"establish a bold and lasting knowledge† (171)1. The foundations for knowledge Descartes established would go on to influence a plethora of other philosophers and philosophical works. Descartes argues in his meditations first from the point of view of complete skepticism, using skepticism as a tool in order toRead MoreThe Meditations On First Philosophy1486 Words   |  6 Pagesexistence of God those progresses from the existence of an idea of an unlimited existence in the human mind—an idea of God—to the being of God himself. Insofar as we have an idea of an unlimited existence, an idea with â€Å"infinite independent reality†, we can reasonably ask when it arrived to us. The only thinkable reason of this impression, prerogatives Descartes, is an countless existence, explicitly, God . The manifestation of correct this knowledge in the proof is crucial. In element, Descartes continuesRead MoreDescartes Second Argument For The Existence Of God1642 Words   |  7 PagesPaper: Descartes’ Second Argument for the Existence of God As with almost all of Descartes inquiries the roots of his second argument for the existence of God begin with his desire to build a foundation of knowledge that he can clearly and distinctly perceive. At the beginning of the third meditation Descartes once again recollects the things that he knows with certainty. The problem arises when he attempts to clearly and distinctly understand truths of arithmetic and geometry. Descartes has enoughRead MoreSimilarities Between Descartes And Nietzsche s View On God s Existence937 Words   |  4 Pages Is there truly a God or something superior to us? Yes of course. Conversely, atheists are people who don’t believe that God or a divine being exists. For the most part, atheists have acknowledged that the most reasonable conclusions are the ones that have the best evidential support. They have argued that the evidence in favor of God’s existence is too weak or the arguments in favor of concluding there is no God are more compell ing. Two ancient philosophers, Descartes and Nietzsche’s have differentRead MoreThe On First Philosophy By Rene Descartes1699 Words   |  7 PagesIn his work Meditations on First Philosophy, published in 1641, Renà © Descartes sets out to establish a set of indubitable truths for the sciences. He begins by discarding all of his beliefs, then works to rebuild his beliefs based on careful thought. Descartes clearly states this goal, saying in the First Meditation, â€Å"I will work my way up†¦ I will accomplish this by putting aside everything that admits of the least doubt† (I, 17). He is able to establish his own existence, but struggles to move beyondRead MoreThe Projetion of the Perfection Paradox1176 Words   |  5 Pagesmind, by analyzing proofs that Descartes finds it can be seen if this was achieved. The proof that God exist is a defining moment in the discourse since God is continually referenced for origin of true knowledge. The reference to God does not only set the stage for further proofs on knowledge, but as the original truth, all of what Descartes finds real can be related back to God. This idea will be key in order to keep the excising of the method going when Descartes falls stagnant when relating toRead MoreEssay about Descartes vs. Spinoza1588 Words   |  7 PagesTerm Paper, Philosophy 1107 Aaron Davis Evaluation Comparison Between Descartes and Spinoza About The Paper: What I will do in this following paper is to discuss two very interesting philosophers, Rene Descartes and Benedictus de Spinoza. I will discuss each philosopher’s perspectives and insights on their most recognized theories and thoughts. I will then evaluate them and then give my opinion on the given topic. By doing this, I will contrast the similarities and