Interpretation on Descartes Argument of the Existence of God in the Third Meditation
Descartes challenges the existence of God in the Third Meditation. He approaches this challenge by sorting his thoughts into a systematic critique of his ideas and surroundings to develop his argument that God exists. He uses the argument from the second meditation (that he thinks so he must exist) to develop and facilitate his proof that God exists. He also utilizes his personal ideas and where they come from to build upon the proof of God.
Descartes begins his argument by knowing that he is a thinking thing that exists by clear and distinct perception. From this he concludes that everything he perceives clearly and distinctly is true (24). If everything that he perceives clearly is true, then there is a degree of doubt that coincides with the truthfulness of his perception. This doubt is even found in matters that are evident. Doubt may occur because of a God that gives you nature to be deceived even by something that seems evident (25). Something gives you the nature to doubt and not to believe everything you see. In a way, you are being tested to see if you will fall for deceptions in life. There is no reason to believe
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The idea of imperfection must have originated from some idea in me of a more perfect infinite being. This idea cannot come out of nothing; it has to come out of something. This doubt that humans possess is almost like God’s way to protect you. Where do these ideas originate from? Ideas may come from outside our soul or from our inner self. According to Descartes, ideas cannot be false. Descartes is successful in determining the existence of God through a simple proof of the perfection of God. But how can one prove to others their experiences if you have to be exposed to it first hand? One is unable to prove something exists unless you are able to experience it in reality. Your ideas are only object realities, a mere representation of what perfection is. Descartes is missing a step in that idea. Ideas may be true because you unable to determine if it is false because it is your own interpretation of it. Those outside influences may reflect your ideas but it is how you interpret those ideas to manipulate into your own ideas. He states that something can not come from nothing so obviously the idea of perfection must have come from the negation of imperfect. He believes that his idea of God was innate in him just as the idea of him is innate in him (34). Maybe your idea of God is not a perfect infinite being. But you are given an idea of what God is and how he is formed into you; you are given concepts about God and you can read stories about him and how you interrupt it is how you create your own individual idea of God.
Approximate Word count =
1817
Approximate Pages =
7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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