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Analysis Of Descartes Discourse On Method

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In part four of Descartes’ Discourse on Method, the word ‘perfect’ is used numerous times. The excessive use of the word marks its importance in Descartes argument. This part of Descartes work contains Descartes’ thoughts on God and proof of God’s existence. He is exploring the idea of a perfect being, but the word ‘perfect’ seems to take on different meanings throughout the section of Descartes deliberating on what makes a perfect being. Perfect is used in relation to doubt, in relation to God, and in relation to truth. Descartes explores the definition of a “perfect being” and decides God is the only example of a perfect being, but what does perfect mean to Descartes (34)? What is a perfect being? Furthermore, what significance does perfection …show more content…
Descartes describes God as “infinite, eternal, immutable, all-knowing, all-powerful, and in short could have had all the perfections that [Descartes] could discern to be in God (35). Perfect, in this sense, means without flaws. God is the best example for perfection because God could simply be described as perfection. Descartes lives in a time where the people around him are predominantly Christian, and Descartes, though he never outright claims to be Christian, most likely believes in or knows about the Christian God and is referring to him in his Discourse on Method as perfection. God, according to Christianity, is flawless so Descartes is claiming perfect means flawless by associating the word perfect with a flawless …show more content…
By claiming that thinking and reason are the perfections God has given humanity, he is trying to get everyone to use these perfections more. Descartes is trying to inspire people to think more through the entirety of his Discourse on Method. He uses his own story as a model for what can be gained by reasoning and deep thought. God is set up as an ideal to further push his readers to think and reason more. The predominately Christian audience he is writing to will more than likely start to view thinking and reasoning as good when they are presented as perfections given directly to humanity by God. Descartes uses perfection in this manner to appeal to his audience and further his argument about the importance of thinking and

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