IB Philosophy Core: Descartes Meditation 3
- Created by: Milly
- Created on: 28-04-13 09:07
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- Third Meditation
- When ideas are 'clear and distinct' they are certain -derived from cogito
- He could only think that 2+3=5 was uncertain, is in the presence of an evil demon
- Ideas
- Innate
- Clear and distinct ideas
- From the natural light
- A form of reason
- Adventitious
- Ideas from the outside world
- From sense experience
- Ficticious
- From imagination
- Usually from adventitious ideas
- Innate
- Natural light
- Ideas that are clear and distinct from innate thought
- 'Inclinations' are vaguer forms of thought
- Teaches him that 'cause must have as much reality as its effect'
- Medieval belief based on the 'hierarchy of reality'
- Those of formal reality have existence
- Those of objective reality are merely representations
- Trademark argument
- He has an idea of the infinitely powerful and perfect God
- Cause must be greater than effect - St Aquinas
- Humans are finite so we must have a infinite cause- this is God
- He could not have created himself as he would have made himself perfect - he would not doubt or lack anything
- God cannot be a deceiver because humans are in his image
- Descartes aims to be good, so God must be better
- God leaves a trademark on the mind of Descartes
- Trademark argument
- He has an idea of the infinitely powerful and perfect God
- Cause must be greater than effect - St Aquinas
- Humans are finite so we must have a infinite cause- this is God
- He could not have created himself as he would have made himself perfect - he would not doubt or lack anything
- God cannot be a deceiver because humans are in his image
- Descartes aims to be good, so God must be better
- God leaves a trademark on the mind of Descartes
- Objections
- Cartesian circle
- He needs his thought to prove God's existence
- He cannot be sure of his mind unless a good God exists
- 'as long as I remain ignorant to this matter, I seem unable to be certain of any other at all.'
- He needs his thought to prove God's existence
- Omnibenevolent argument
- Based on the idea of being created in God's image
- Comes from Genesis
- This assumption has not been doubted
- He cannot leave his faith alone
- Comes from Genesis
- Based on the idea of being created in God's image
- Why couldn't Descartes have created the idea of infinity himself?
- Descartes responded we cannot have the idea of finite without the idea of infinite
- In order to know what half an orange is you must know what a whole orange is
- Descartes responded we cannot have the idea of finite without the idea of infinite
- Why can't our parents have made us?
- Descartes responded that there is an infinite regression of generations
- In science non-living objects evolve to live
- Cartesian circle
- When ideas are 'clear and distinct' they are certain -derived from cogito
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