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Examples Of Descartes Argument For The Existence Of God

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Student Name: |Grace Pavey | |
|Student No: |PAV10137547 |
|Course: |Access to HE |
| | |
|Lecturer: |Jim Mawby |
|Subject: |Philosophy |
|Date: |7 Feb 2010 |

Explain and assess one or more Descartes’ arguments for the existence of God

Descartes applies the ‘Cogito ergo sum’ (‘I think therefore I am’) argument from the second meditation to prove another foundational truth, which is the existence of God. He uses his personal Christian belief and definition of God to build upon this proposition and tries to prove that something besides him exists by contemplating his idea of God. This essay will explain and assess Descartes’ aetiological and cause of existence arguments for the existence of God by identifying the meaning of existence in this context and the clear and distinct rule, as well as examining each premise and conclusion of the proofs. Finally, this essay shall attempt to evaluate Descartes’ arguments. …show more content…
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|(C4) |Then the cause of Descartes’ idea of God is God. |
|(C3) |An infinite and perfect God exists in his idea. |
|(P6) |Neither himself, his parents, something else, nor an infinite series of events causes Descartes’ existence. |
|(C5) |Descartes’ existence is caused by God. |
|(P7) |If God created Descartes. |
|(C6) |Then God exists.

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