answersLogoWhite

0

One of his reasons for believing in god is that he knows (or thinks) that God is perfect. Since perfection includes existence, he therefore assumes that God must exist.

Answer:

Descartes made a series of increasingly unsupportable suppositions to back up his beleief in God:

1. I exist (A supportable statement for an individual - Cogito ergo sum)

2. I have in my mind the notion of a perfect being (The idea that anyone can develop an idea of a perfect being is not provable. The Aztec may have thoght their bloodthirsty gods perfect as well)

3. An imperfect being, like myself, cannot think up the notion of a perfect being (There is no proof although it is believable that humans are not perfect and it is debatable if the idea he has of a perfect being is indeed perfect)

4. Therefore the notion of a perfect being must have originated from the perfect being himself (This is a flight of fancy)

5. A perfect being would not be perfect if it did not exist (Buddhists, for example see perfection in the loss of being)

6. Therefore a perfect being must exist (This does not follow from any of the above statements)

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What sort of god does descartes describe?

Descartes claimed to be a devout Catholic however God seemed to be a used deity for him. He seemed to use God when it was convenient and didn't believe in him when he wasn't needed.


What were Ren Descartes' discoveries?

Rene Descartes invented the famous Cartesian coordinate system.He worked in the field of analytic geometry.


What are Ren Descartes' contributions to mathematics?

Rene desscartes was the father of mathematics.


Did Descartes believe in tabula rasa?

No, Descartes did not believe in tabula rasa. He believed that innate ideas existed within the mind prior to experience. Descartes argued that the mind had certain inherent knowledge, such as the concept of God, which did not require sensory input to be known.


What city was Ren Descartes born in?

== == Oddly enough, the place now called Descartes. Initially called La Haye en Touraine, the town was renamed La Haye-Descartes in 1802 in his honour, and then renamed again to Descartes in 1967.


How does descartes know that god exists?

Descartes argues for the existence of God through his ontological argument, which posits that the idea of a perfect being must come from a perfect being (God). He also argues that since he (Descartes) has a clear and distinct idea of God, and God is a necessary being, then God must exist in reality. This reasoning forms the basis for Descartes' belief in the existence of God.


What type of philosopher would Ren Descartes be considered in relation to the mind-body problem?

Ren Descartes would be considered a dualist philosopher in relation to the mind-body problem. He believed that the mind and body are separate entities, with the mind being immaterial and the body being material.


What does descartes say about God?

Descartes believed that God is a necessary being who exists as a perfect and infinite being. He argued that the existence of God is essential for the guarantee of our clear and distinct perceptions, as well as for the coherence of the universe. Descartes also posited that God is the guarantor of truth and the source of all reality.


Why did Ren Descartes embark on the project of doubt?

Short answer: Descartes' doubt was like WWI - the doubt to end all doubt. Only by doubting everything could Descartes hope to find anything that was certain (even if the only certainty is that nothing else is certain!).


What is the significance of the phrase "Cogito, ergo sum" in the philosophy of Ren Descartes?

The phrase "Cogito, ergo sum" means "I think, therefore I am" in Latin. It is significant in Ren Descartes' philosophy because it represents his foundational belief that the act of thinking proves one's existence. Descartes used this statement to establish a starting point for his philosophical inquiry, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and rational thought in understanding reality.


How did Ren Descartes invent the coordinate system?

Some math mathematicians say that Descartes inspiration came from being in bed so late. But, this also came about because of his love for math and all of his studying.


Does Descartes believe that our minds are infinite?

Descartes believed that the human mind contained particular innate ideas, one of which was infinity. Rene Descartes was a French philosopher.