Descartes Causal Argument For the Existence of God Found in Meditation III Essay Example

representation and content. The first is known as the formal reality of the concept- the reality within the concept itself. The second is referred to as objective reality, which is the reality representing the idea's content.

Descartes proceeds to utilize certain assumptions from the scholastic tradition, which he perceives as so obvious that they demand no justification, unlike every other argument he has presented thus far. He argues that everything has a cause and that the cause of something must possess at least as much perfection as the effect; this is referred to as the causal adequacy principle by Cottingham. This implies that the cause of an idea I possess surpasses the objective reality of that idea; it possesses eminent reality. Descartes discovers that this principle holds true for all of his ideas.

In regards to the concept of God, Descartes experiences only slight issue. He is of the belief that the idea of God is inherent, as that of a completely flawless entity. His argument states that such an idea could not have originated from sense experience, as this surpasses any ability that we as limited beings possess. It also could not have been created in his imagination, for the same reason - even through repetition, one cannot attain the infinitesimal qualities that his concept of God embodies. Therefore, Descartes concluded that his idea of God is unique. He questions if he inherited this idea from his parents, who would then be the source of it and possess more reality than the idea itself. However, since his idea is of a perfect being, his parents should possess greater objective reality than that which is perfect, which

isn't feasible for finite beings like them.

Descartes concludes that the idea of God implanted in his mind must have come from something with greater objective reality. He sees this as proof that God, rather than any other cause, is responsible for the idea of God in his mind. This innate idea serves as a mark of the maker on his work and is known as the 'Trademark' argument. Despite criticism that Descartes relied on scholastic assumptions, he maintains that cause is a priori and that whatever causes an event must be equal to or greater than its effects. He also asserts that something cannot be created from nothing, returning to these old ideas of cause and effect despite his declaration in the first Meditation to start anew.

There are controversial topics that some philosophers, such as Hume, may question. One of these is the existence of cause and effect in the universe, which Hume rejected as a mere imposition on individual events. Another one is the concept of God, which Hume saw as a human creation based on observations of many goods. Some people might even claim not to have an idea of God in their minds. Nonetheless, Descartes asserted that using the word God implies an existing idea of him.

Although the term "God" is utilized, Gassendi asserts that it does not inevitably denote the notion of infinity. It may instead refer to a malevolent daemon that even transcends Descartes. Furthermore, there is an inquiry as to whether a finite intellect can comprehend the notion of infinity. To this, Descartes may respond by proposing that although we possess the idea of infinity/perfection, we are incapable

of fully understanding it.

When reevaluating Descartes' scholastic beliefs on the necessity of a first cause for everything, an inherent contradiction arises. If all things have a cause, then how can there be a first cause? It's possible that there could be an infinite regression of causes. However, if one were to reject infinity, they would also reject the concept of an infinite God. Additionally, why must things have a cause? Could they not exist as brute facts or by chance? Descartes aimed to prove God's existence and adopted questionable old scholastic beliefs that provide a shaky foundation. Although he claims certainty through "the light of reason," what may seem indisputable to him may not hold up for those less motivated to prove God's existence.

Descartes fails to consider the possibility that the concepts of cause and effect may stem from an evil entity, thus casting doubt on his 'proof' of God and rendering his justification for the existence of external objects as flawed. Consequently, he finds himself with an uncertain belief in his own existence alongside a questionable God, residing in a potentially non-existent world.