Significance of Descartes Two Definition of God - Essay Example

SIGNIFICANCE OF DESCARTES’ TWO DEFINITIONS OF GOD AND EXPLICATING THE MEANING AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE PREDICATES “INFINITE” AND “PERFECT” Course Tutor Date Descartes’ two definitions of God are universally important in helping scholars and philosophers to understand the existence of God, Indeed, the two definitions agree with specific cosmological arguments that support the existence of God. As such, the two definitions are significant aspects proving God’s existence. The modern age is skeptical about the entire concept of deriving fundamental proofs to the existence of God (Oregon State University 2014, p. 1). This has led to the rise of many philosophers and resultant definitions and arguments for and against the existence of God. Descartes’ two definitions of God are part of the continued efforts that reinforce relevant arguments about the existence of God. It is the duty of philosophers to evaluate such arguments and hence Descartes’ two definitions of God provide an efficient platform for this exercise. The information about Descartes’ definitions of God is significant in helping students to analyze the details and complexity Descartes proofs of God’s existence. This simplifies Descartes proofs of God’s existence and helps the students to understand the application of such proofs, which leads to an informed, rational, and reasonable evaluation of all proofs and arguments about God’s existence. Descartes defines God as a substance that is infinite, independent, omniscient, and omnipotent (University of Kentucky n.d, p. 1). From this definition, it is easy for us to understand Descartes’ argument, which implies that the idea of God contains the idea of existence and hence God must exist and God cannot fail to exist since God’s existence is necessary (Lacewing n.d, p. 1). As such, it is clear that Descartes’ definition of God helps us to simplify his argument about God’s existence. Furthermore, following from his definitions, Descartes turns to his idea of God to establish whether there is anything in the idea, which could not have originated from him (Oregon State University 2014, p. 1). Indeed, he claims that he understands God as an infinite, independent, supremely intelligent, and supremely powerful being that created him and everything else that exists (Oregon State University 2014, p. 1). From his definition, Descartes states that after much consideration, he notes that it is less likely that all these attributes originated from him alone and hence his conclusion that God necessarily exists. By agreeing, that God necessarily exists, we adopt all the values of God as defined by Descartes. As such, the definition clearly leads to the assertion that God necessarily exists and helps us to learn and understand the values of the existing God. By concluding that God necessarily exists, the definitions establish the justification for God’s existence since no other existing being can be infinite, independent, supremely intelligent, and supremely powerful (Oregon State University 2014, p. 1). Indeed, asserting that God necessarily exists is a basis for proving God’s existence (Lacewing n.d, p. 1). In this context, Descartes’ definition of God leads to various objection that Descartes addresses in his arguments. The definitions help Descartes to prove that God exists and is not a deceiver by showing that an Evil Genius could not exist since it could not hold all the values in his definition. Through the definition and arguments, Descartes proves that God exists and hence an omnipotent Evil Genius is unrealistic. Descartes’ definition of God has the support of the two central claims of Descartes’ philosophy, which relate to the theory of innate ideas and the doctrine of clear and distinct ideas (Lacewing n.d, p. 1). Indeed, the theory of innate ideas supports Descartes’ definition of God as a super perfect being (Oregon State University 2014, p. 1). Ideally, most believers have the idea of God as a super perfect being and hence the acceptability of the definition. Moreover, the doctrine of clear and distinct ideas supports the validity of Descartes’ argument about God’s existence (Lacewing n.d, p. 1). Descartes argues that it is eminent and distinct that we cannot isolate the idea of existence from the idea of God, a super perfect being as established in his definition of God. However, Descartes realizes that he could be wrong and hence seeks to justify his definition and arguments about God by classifying the ideas in his mind to establish the truth and falsehood in his ideas (Oregon State University 2014, p. 1). This analysis is significant in that our thoughts can reveal the reality and define the relevance as to whether or not God exists. The analysis plays a major role of proving God’s existence. Indeed, Descartes asserts that if the objective reality of an idea does not come from us then it must come from something else and since God’s attributes cannot come from us, then they must have come from God which proves that God exists (University of Kentucky n.d, p. 1). The definitions support Descartes’ argument, which relates to the cosmological argument for God’s existence (Gracyk 2004, p.1). This correlates with St. Thomas Aquinas’ cosmological argument, which is a strong argument about the existence of God (Gracyk 2004, p.1). Indeed, Descartes’ definition of God correlates with some of the five ways presented by St. Thomas as a proof of God’s existence especially the argument from efficient causes and argument from gradation of being (Gracyk 2004, p.1). Descartes’ definition of God is equally significant in that it represents circular reasoning by using clear and distinct ideas to prove God’s existence in Meditation 3 (Oregon State University 2014, p. 1). Ideally, Descartes establishes a conceptual connection between the concept of God and God’s existence. The concept of God includes His definition as presented by Descartes, which entails that God’s must exist. This relies on doctrine of clear and distinct ideas as defined in Descartes’ philosophy. According to this philosophy, we can perceive existence as part of the idea of God through our thoughts. Descartes notes that humans are just thinking things created by a thinking thing that possesses all the ideas of perfections of God (University of Kentucky n.d, p. 2). Such a being must be God who created humans and gave them the ideas of a perfect God (University of Kentucky n.d, p. 2). This relates with one of the attributes of God defined by Descartes’ definitions of God. Indeed, Descartes defines God as a super perfect being. The definitions of God as presented by Descartes are a significant aspect since it derives a proof of God’s existence. As such, the definitions form the initial effort to establish the reality of something outside the self and the foundation for every further attempt to establish the reality of something outside the self (Oregon State University 2014, p. 1). The definition of God by Descartes is important in proving God’s existence and for human knowledge. As such, the acceptance of Descartes’ definition of God will help in deriving human knowledge. The definitions are a product of his distinct faculties and beliefs on God and His existence. Descartes’ definitions of God are not absolute and hence they are subject to various objections. These aspects present the significance of Descartes’ definitions of God in proving God’s existence. Explicating the Meaning and the Implications of the Predicates “Infinite” and “Perfect” In Descartes’ definitions of God, he claims that he understands God as an infinite, independent, supremely intelligent, and supremely powerful being that created him and everything else that exists (Oregon State University 2014, p. 1). Descartes predicates the existence of God using predicates “infinite” and “perfect.” In fact, he argues that God exists due to His infinite and perfect nature. As such, the predicates “Infinite” and “Perfect” serve the purpose of supporting Descartes’ assertion that God exists. This follows from Descartess fifth Meditation argument for “Gods existence that depends on an untenable notion that existence is perfection and that we can predicate the existence of God” (Still 2014, p.1). According to Descartes, our thoughts perceive existence as part of God’s idea. Our thoughts can reveal the reality and define the relevance as to whether or not God exists. Descartes thoughts perceived the idea of God where he imagined that God is an infinite substance, independent, supremely intelligent, supremely powerful, all knowing, and the perfect being (Oregon State University 2014, p. 1). In defining perfection, he related perfection with reality leading to the existence of perfection (Still 2014). Descartes asserts that if the objective reality of an idea does not come from us then it must come from something else and since God’s attributes cannot come from us, then they must have come from God which proves that God exists (University of Kentucky n.d, p. 1). As such, Descartes predicates “infinite” and “perfect to prove the existence of God. Clearly, Descartes seeks to argue that existence is a perfection that belongs to divine beings like God. According to Descartes, existence forms the true essence of any perfect being, which leads to his assertion that the existence is necessarily predicated of God (Still 2014). He argues that it is impossible to possess the idea of a super perfect being if the being in question does not exist. Now that God is the super perfect being, then He must exist to possess such ideas. On the other hand, he argues that if God did not exist then He would not occupy the position of the super perfect being (Still 2014). Having a detailed idea of the super perfect being from Descartes’ definitions of God, Descartes encourages us to believe that God must exist from this understanding. It is thus clear that predicates “infinite” and “perfect” seek to justify Descartes’ argument and motivate us to believe that God exists. However, by predicating the existence of God, Descartes confirms his claim that God exists. This has an implication of coercing Descartes’ followers to agree with his argument that existence is predicated of a most perfect being, which forces the followers to derive that God exists (Still 2014). Predicates “infinite” and “perfect lead to objections, which claim that predicating the existence of a most-perfect being based on infinite substance and perfection does not provide existence to that being (Still 2014). Ideally, characteristics like perfect, infinite, and independent defines the look of the being in question but does not derive existence to that being. The predicates “infinite” and “perfect” and predicating the existence of God can only define what God should be like provided He actually exists but cannot provide existence to God (Still 2014). For instance, Descartess assertion of what God is ignores the logical use of the “is” of existence and hence does not prove God’s existence (Still 2014). Ideally, the object of the “is” of predication must necessarily exist to develop a coherent sentence (Still 2014). Therefore, the predicates “infinite” and “perfect” lead to a grammatically coherent sentence but a very confusing logical proposition (Still 2014). Indeed, Kant argues that we cannot predicate existence of any being or provide existence to any being after declaring what it is (Still 2014). These arguments seek to demean the purpose of predicates “infinite” and “perfect” as presented by Descartes. The predicates “infinite” and “perfect” derive objections, which claim that we should consider existence as perfection but as a prerequisite for a being that can be perfect or imperfect (Still 2014). Moreover, the predicates “infinite” and “perfect” supports Descartess claim that a super perfect being must exist to be a super perfect being. Ultimately, we can derive that the predicates “infinite” and “perfect” that predicate the existence of God as a divine attribute do not address God’s actual existence in a conclusive manner (Still 2014). Works Cited Gracyk, T 2004, St. Thomas Aquinas: The Existence of God can be proved in five ways, retrieved 30 July 2014, < http://web.mnstate.edu/gracyk/courses/web%20publishing/aquinasfiveways_argumentanalysis.htm> Lacewing, M n.d, Descartes’ ontological argument, retrieved 30 July 2014, < http://cw.routledge.com/textbooks/alevelphilosophy/data/A2/Descartes/DescartesOntological.pdf> Oregon State University 2014, Descartes Proof for the Existence of God, retrieved 30 July 2014, < http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/philosophers/descartes-god.html> Still, J 2014, Descartes Meditations Ontological Argument, retrieved 30 July 2014, < http://infidels.org/library/modern/james_still/descartes.html> University of Kentucky n.d, Descartes’, retrieved 30 July 2014, < http://www.uky.edu/~look/Descartes2.pdf> Read More