Descartes First Proof That God Exist - 2000 Words

In Descartes’ third Meditation, he attempts to prove the existence of a good and omnipotent God, to build on prove his own existence. The purpose of this essay is to grasp a better understanding and analyze Descartes’ first proof that God necessarily exists. Firstly, I will explain the proof of the existence of God according to Descartes through the concepts of formal and objective reality. Secondly, I will get to his claim that God is the cause of our own existence through the principle of special cause. Finally, I will propose relevant counterarguments to Descartes’ theories. The purpose of Meditation 3 is to prove God’s existence. From what Descartes has established in the previous meditations, he is certain that he exists and that he is a thinking thing that has the capability to doubt, affirm, deny, understand, will, refuse, imagine and feel (34). What Descartes is still doubtful about is the existence of these bodily things. Descartes is undoubtedly certain that he is a thinking thing and he clearly and distinctly perceives this fact. He could not be certain unless all clear and distinct perceptions can be certain. Therefore, he concludes that whatever he perceives clearly and distinctly (â€Å"the natural light†) must be true. Clear and distinct ideas are self-evident truths. We know that 2 + 2 = 4. How do we know that it equals 4? Well, we just know it, and we are certain about it. But what if 2 + 2 = 5? Is God deceiving us? So, to assure himself that he is not beingShow MoreRelatedThe Projetion of the Perfection Paradox1176 Words   |  5 Pagesend in mind, 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 relatingRead MoreEssay about A Very Brief History on the Existence of God 1202 Words   |  5 Pagessubsequent essay will provide a brief overview on the existence of God from Renà © Descartes through Immanuel Kant. First, section (1), examines Descartes’ proof for the existence of God. Section (2), explores G.W. Leibniz’s view on God’s existence in addition to his attempts to rectify the shortcomings of Descartes’ proofs. Before continuing, it is imperative to understand that both Descartes and Leibniz believed that the existence of God could be proved via reason. The remainder of the essay then examinesRead MoreDiscourse on Descartes Skeptical Method1672 Words   |  7 PagesSebastian Gumina Paper Topic #1 Descartes’ Skeptical Method Descartes’ method offers definitive conclusions on certain topics, (his existence, the existence of God)but his reasoning is not without error. He uses three arguments to prove existence (His and God’s) that attempt to solidify his conclusions. For his method to function seamlessly, Descartes needs to be consistent in his use of the method, that is, he must continue to doubt and challenge thoughts that originate in his ownRead MoreDescartes First Meditation On The Existence Of God1320 Words   |  6 PagesMinglai Dong Descartes Third Meditation: Recommended Topic 2 Descartes’ third meditation on First Philosophy is all about the existence of God. There are many things that Descartes talks about in this meditation. His intentions are to create a set of proofs or arguments that will irrefutably prove God’s existence. He already believes that God exists but he is mainly trying to dispute the reasons why God might not exist or how God may be a deceiver. The definition of God to Descartes can be summedRead MoreDescartes Proof of the Existence of God in Meditation Three Essay1026 Words   |  5 PagesDescartes Proof of the Existence of God in Meditation Three This paper is intended to explain and evaluate Descartes proof for the existence of god in Meditation Three. It shall show the weaknesses in the proof, but also give credit to the strengths in his proof. It will give a background of what Descartes has already accepted as what he truly knows. The paper will also state Descartes two major points for the existence of God and why the points can easily be proven false. The paper willRead MoreThe Meditations On First Philosophy By Rene Descartes916 Words   |  4 Pages The Meditations on First Philosophy by Rene Descartes is a thorough analysis about doubt. Descartes describes his method of doubt to determine whether he can truly know something. One of his major arguments is the proof of the existence of God. In this paper, I will attempt to unravel the flaws in Descartes proof that God exists. In the meditations, Descartes evaluates whether or not everything we know is a reality or a dream. Descartes claims that we can only be sure that our beliefs are trueRead MoreDescartes: Proofs of God/Deception and Error Essay1093 Words   |  5 PagesDescartes: Proofs of God/Deception and Error Instructions: First: Analyze and evaluate the two proofs of Gods existence. How are they different? Is one more convincing than the other? Why did Descartes think he needed two proofs? Do they do different work for him? And secondly: Does Descartes give a satisfactory account of human error, given a perfect and divine creator? Are Descartes arguments convincing, or does it still seem unnecessary and less than perfect that God created us withRead MoreDescartes s Theory Of God1490 Words   |  6 PagesWithin his work, Descartes presents the causal argument, in which he demonstrates the idea that God must exist because everything with an affect must have a cause . This is one approach that Descartes uses to show the proof of God. By the end of meditation two, following onto meditation three Descartes concludes that we as humans are considered as a ‘res cognitas’ in which we are recognised as a thinking thing. However due to humans being known as the ‘res cognitas’ that mean s God is the ‘perfectRead MoreArguments For The Existence Of God1137 Words   |  5 PagesArguments for the existence of God come in many different forms; some draw on history, some on science, some on personal experience, and some on philosophy. Descartes offered two arguments towards the existence of God: an informal proof in the third meditation and the ontological proof in the fifth meditation. Descartes believed that with the employment of a rational method of inquiry which applied some of the methods of analytic geometry to the study of philosophy, our ability to attain certaintyRead MoreEssay on Descartes Meditations1018 Words   |  5 PagesDescartes Meditations Descartes meditations are created in pursuit of certainty, or true knowledge. He cannot assume that what he has learned is necessarily true, because he is unsure of the accuracy of its initial source. In order to purge himself of all information that is possibly wrong, he subjects his knowledge to methodic doubt. This results in a (theoretical) doubt of everything he knows. Anything, he reasons, that can sustain such serious doubt must be unquestionable truth, and