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Question: Descartes Proof Of God!?
I think I have to be the worst philosophy student alive! Lmao!. I think I must read Meditations over a thousand times and I still don't get it this one part!. I even went to a weekend workshop that how bad I am!. But all they did was read it over but really explain it in detail!. Which Is what I need!. So I'm asking all you smart people here on Yahoo Answers!. You helped me name my son and decorate my new bedroom apartment so why not this!? Lol!.

Anyway can someone explain to me Descartes proof of God's in his 3rd and 5th mediation!. I'm just little unclear!. I understand to a point but not enough that I can participate in any class discussion's without feeling like I'm making a fool out of myself!. And I'm a honors student here! :(

Thanks in advance!. I really appreciate it!.

Dee!.

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Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
The Ontological Argument offered to us through Meditations 1-6 sum up to say that God necessarily exists!. Because Descartes had the IDEA of God, there must be a God to receive that idea from!. The definition of God at such point of writing was "that greater than which can be conceived!." In other words, something greater than you can imagine!.

Descartes riddles on about God's 'objective reality'--the representational qualities and content that make up the idea of God!. God is explained to be infinite, independent (was not created), supremely powerful, supremely beneficient, supremely intelligent, and the creator of everything!. All six of these qualities added up to be the idea/concept of "Perfection"!.

So this brings us back to the Ontological Argument, also often referred to as the "Inheritance Idea"!.
God exists--->God is perfect--->God is not a deceiver--->Therefore the Light of Nature (God) can be trusted!.

It is kind of a bad argument because Descartes does not go on to tell how theories against the existence of God are wrong!.


There is also the explanation of the problem of Evil!. If God is supremely good, one would assume that there is a supreme Evil to balance it out, right!?
However, Descartes explains that: If God is supremely benevolent and supremely powerful, then he wants there to be no evil, and there is non!.
Mistakes are false judgments, and free will allows mistakes!.



Fuuuuurthermore!.

You will likely, (and hopefully), discuss in class something that Descartes mentions nearly obsessively: minds & bodies!. Descartes is a Dualist, and believes that the two substances the world is made up of are minds and bodies, and humans are the only creatures with minds!.
I'm not sure if it's discussed in the fifth or sixth meditation, but there is a mind-body problem!. How are they connected!? Unfortunately, all Descartes says about this are that they are tightly joined, yet separate!.
Many philosophers over the centuries have tried to come up with the ideas of how minds and bodies are connected!.

Okay, I'm tired of writing!.!.!. so!.!.!. if you have any more questions, you can email me!.
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Hi Dee!.

Unfortunately I found myself in the same predicament when I was an honours students, but not to worry i'm now doing my Masters thesis on the epistemology and rationality of religious beliefs lol! However to press on to the point I was wondering if you have consulted the Stanford Encyclopiedia of Philosophy!. Thats what I found most helpful when it came to understanding the 3rd and 5th Meditations!. I know it's not much help but cant leave any stone unturned! You should realise though that the people in your class will be supporting you, not judging you!. The best way to overcome your problems are to raise them!. A fellow student could put it in such a way that it just clicks and you will find everything will just fall into place!. I'm sure your not the only one and they will admire your ability to speak up!. Your not a bad student, the fact that you went to such efforts to get to grips with the Meditations is very admirable and is in no way indicative of " the worst philosophy student alive"!.

Best wishes,
AshleighWww@QuestionHome@Com