Med 3 Essay

Question 1

Introduction:

Answer 1

+ in med 2, Descartes believes he has established a form of absolute knowledge through the cogito - I disagree
+ tries to find another: the existence of god
+ argument for the existence is known as the trademark argument

Question 2

Paragraph 1 topic

Answer 2

The clear and distinct rule

Question 3

Paragraph 1 points:

Answer 3

+ if an idea is both clear and distinct = true
+ clear if it is self-explanatory
+ distinct if it is independent from other ideas
+ Descartes says his idea of god is both clear and distinct

Question 4

Paragraph 1 quote:

Answer 4

“I call an idea clear when it is present and fully revealed to the mind attending to it…I call an idea distinct when it is so separated and demarcated form all other ideas.”

Question 5

Paragraph 2 topic

Answer 5

Discussion of the clear and distinct rule

Question 6

Paragraph 2 points:

Answer 6

• definition of clear and distinct may be product of deception
  + invalid, logic is all that matters
• logic may be product of deception
• Descartes created this rule, meaning it may be biased and is definitely subjective

Question 7

Your stance on paragraph 2?

Answer 7

I find the clear and distinct rule ineffective, as it is the word and ideology of one man

Question 8

Paragraph 3 topic

Answer 8

The nature of ideas

Question 9

Paragraph 3 points:

Answer 9

+ innate and adventitious ideas
+ splits innate ideas into formal and objective
+ knife example: knife has more objective reality than quality of sharpness
+ causal adequacy principle: every effect must have a cause that is equally or more real
+ infinite regress of creation
+ god stops this as ultimate creator

Question 10

Paragraph 3 quote:

Answer 10

“It follows from this both that something cannot arise from nothing, and also what is more perfect - that is, contains in itself more reality - cannot arise from what is less perfect”

Question 11

Paragraph 4 topic

Answer 11

Discussion of the causal adequacy principle

Question 12

Paragraph 4 points:

Answer 12

• infinite regress could actually be possible, we are deceived into thinking it isn’t
• God could not exist, as he is all-perfect/all-real
• John cottingham cake example: ingredients of a cake are not spicy, but final cake is. Cake has more reality (sponginess) than the cause.

Question 13

Your stance on paragraph 4?

Answer 13

I find all criticisms effective

• first two highlight Descartes willingness to jump to conclusions, as he is guided strongly by Christian beliefs
• second as it is illogical to state sponginess was created from nothing + Descartes said the causal adequacy principle was self-evident

Overall reliability of trademark argument reduced

Question 14

Paragraph 5 topic

Answer 14

The trademark argument

Question 15

Paragraph 5 points:

Answer 15

+ Imperfect beings could not create the image of a perfect being without having experienced perfection to understand their own imperfections.
+ god left a trademark in the mind of Descartes
+ ensure Descartes worshipped him and knew who his creator was

Question 16

Paragraph 5 quote:

Answer 16

“How could I understand that I doubted or desired - that is lacked something - and that I was not wholly perfect, unless there were in me some idea of a more perfect being which enabled me to recognise my own defects by comparison.”

Question 17

Paragraph 6 topic

Answer 17

Discussion of the trademark argument

Question 18

Paragraph 6 points:

Answer 18

+ far-fetched, but valid at first glance
+ however, idea of perfection may be product of deception
+ innate ideas may be product of deception to, meaning he has truly learned his idea of god

Question 19

Your stance on paragraph 6?

Answer 19

I find criticisms effective. Also, struggle to abandon my own atheist beliefs.

Question 20

Paragraph 7 topic

Answer 20

The Cartesian circle

Question 21

Paragraph 7 points:

Answer 21

+ identified by Antoine Arnauld - contemporary of D
+ uses circular logic/codependency between clear and distinct rule and existence of a non-deceiving god
+ also means the malicious demon is not removed - still in solipsism

Question 22

Paragraph 7 example:

Answer 22

Q: How do you know that God exists?
A: Because I proved his existence using clear and distinct ideas.
Q: How do you know that clear and distinct ideas are reliable
A: Because a non-deceiving god exists

Question 23

Your stance on paragraph 7?

Answer 23

I find the criticism effective

• circular logic sums up lack of reliability
• as I found the cogito ineffective, he is still in solipsism

Question 24

Conclusion:

Answer 24

+ unsuccessful in proving God’s existence
+ preconceived beliefs caused him to make uncharacteristic errors
+ same position as end of med 2, as I didn’t find the cogito effective
+ still in solipsism
+ close to defeat at the hands of the sceptics