DQ13

Class Responses and Instructor Comments

>From Wai Yan Ng:

Descartes does that, because he wants to point out that he exist because of God (I am not quite sure?). I say that, because Descartes was religious during that time. He wants to show that he exist through something, there is a starting point which he proves that is God.

>rm says: Remember that the cogito is his starting point. While you may be right about Descartes' motivations, these are not his stated reasons, in the Meditations. Let's take the text seriously. For what reasons, in the Meditations, does he turn to God, after the cogito?

>From dorota:

Descartes hesitates rather God deceive him or not. Maybe one day he will find out he does not exist? Maybe 2+3 is more or less than five? But in order to find that out, first of all Descartes has to know for sure rather there is a God at all.

>rm says: I agree about the mathematics question. (See p 36) There are also all the other doubts to defeat. This response is on target, if awkwardly written.

>From Avrohom: Bec if G-d does exist then there can be no demon deceiver. G-d is all-good and deceiving people is bad. If G-d, no deciever.

>rm says: Yes, and what can we know, if we still think the deceiver is possible? (This is not a rhetorical question!)

>From anna grier

The fact that he exists and have an idea of a perfect being, that is God, is to him the evidence that God exists. It is an innate idea of the mind.
It is this idea of God, that is the reason he exists.

>rm says: All true, for Descartes, but off topic, here.

>From W Y Ng:
Since that the evil demon exist, so Descartes has to turn to the question of whether God exists, because everything has to exist including himself. God is the starting point of everything. If not then, he would have doubted his own existence.

>rm says: Two questions here. Does Descartes really believe that the deceiver exists? Can he really doubt his own existence?

Descartes Reading Guide 13. Why does Descartes turn to the question of whether God exists?		Back to Descartes Reading Guide Back to Philosophy 101 Home Next Question
Enter your response to the above question, or to a previous response, in the form below, or use this email link. I will post your response on the right, and comment if I think I can be helpful. When emailing, instead of using the form, please indicate the question number. When using the form below, if you neglect to enter your name or email, I won't know who you are.	Class Responses and Instructor Comments >From Wai Yan Ng: Descartes does that, because he wants to point out that he exist because of God (I am not quite sure?). I say that, because Descartes was religious during that time. He wants to show that he exist through something, there is a starting point which he proves that is God. >rm says: Remember that the cogito is his starting point. While you may be right about Descartes' motivations, these are not his stated reasons, in the Meditations. Let's take the text seriously. For what reasons, in the Meditations, does he turn to God, after the cogito? >From dorota: Descartes hesitates rather God deceive him or not. Maybe one day he will find out he does not exist? Maybe 2+3 is more or less than five? But in order to find that out, first of all Descartes has to know for sure rather there is a God at all. >rm says: I agree about the mathematics question. (See p 36) There are also all the other doubts to defeat. This response is on target, if awkwardly written. >From Avrohom: Bec if G-d does exist then there can be no demon deceiver. G-d is all-good and deceiving people is bad. If G-d, no deciever. >rm says: Yes, and what can we know, if we still think the deceiver is possible? (This is not a rhetorical question!) >From anna grier The fact that he exists and have an idea of a perfect being, that is God, is to him the evidence that God exists. It is an innate idea of the mind. It is this idea of God, that is the reason he exists. >rm says: All true, for Descartes, but off topic, here. >From W Y Ng: Since that the evil demon exist, so Descartes has to turn to the question of whether God exists, because everything has to exist including himself. God is the starting point of everything. If not then, he would have doubted his own existence. >rm says: Two questions here. Does Descartes really believe that the deceiver exists? Can he really doubt his own existence?
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