meditations

Question 1

why does god exist?

Answer 1

the idea of God in his mind cannot be created by him since it is far more perfect than he is. Only a being as perfect as God could cause an idea so perfect. Thus, the Meditator concludes, God does exist.

Question 2

Loyola’s three stages ?

Answer 2

purgation (skeptical doubt), illumination (proof of the existence of the self, of God), and union (linking this knowledge to the material world).

Question 3

distinction between mind and body?

Answer 3

Mind is essentially thinking and body is essentially extended, so the two have nothing at all in common.the senses are not designed to give us knowledge at all, but are rather meant to help us move through the world in a very practical way.

Question 4

classify his thoughts into different kinds.

Answer 4

First, there are simply ideas Second, there are volitions, emotions, and judgments

Question 5

The most common error in judgment

Answer 5

judge that the ideas in one’s mind conform to, or resemble, things outside the mind

Question 6

three sources for ideas

Answer 6

1.innate 2.adventitious, coming from outside of us, as with our sensory perceptions; 3. they can be invented by us, such as our ideas of mermaids or unicorns