Questions
1. p. 81, paragraph beginning "To begin with." Why does Descartes think "deception is incompatible with God"?
Descartes believed that “deception is incompatible with God”. This conclusion is based on a relatively simple argument. Descartes makes the assumption that deception is sign of imperfection. He maintains that while the ability to deceive is impressive, the desire to deceive is inherently imperfect and weak. God, however, is perfect in all ways and thus deception is incompatible with God.
2. p. 82, paragraph beginning "Still this is not." In the prior paragraph Descartes argued that God did not give him a faculty expressly for the purpose of making errors. But now he argues that this still leaves a problem. What is the …show more content…
Paragraph beginning on p. 82 "It also occurs" and continuing over to p. 83. How does Descartes think the idea of looking at his place in the universe as a whole might serve to explain his appearing to be imperfect?
Descartes realizes that there are unquestionably imperfect aspects to him. He, however, proposes that one ought to view the entire universe when thinking in terms of perfection. He suggests that something (such as himself) might be imperfect but still serve as a small part in a larger, and perfect, universe.
4. p. 84, lines 8 and 9 from top. Descartes seems to treat "affirm and deny," and "pursue and shun" as two distinct pairs of abilities involved in willing. Can you suggest what difference he might have in mind? (Hint: think about what things one would normally be said to affirm or deny, and what things one would normally speak of pursuing or …show more content…
One may affirm or deny concepts and proposals. Through affirmation or denial people form their ideas and concepts of the world. Pursing and shunning, however, have to do with actions and goals. One either pursues a goal (via action) or shuns the idea (via inaction).
5. p. 84, paragraph beginning "But from these." Here Descartes gives the basic explanation for why we make errors. Briefly, what is it?
Descartes begins with the premise that since God gave us the ability to understand, we must understand things perfectly. However, he explains, the will spreads beyond understanding. Or, put another way, while our ability to understand is constrained by boundaries, our will is not. Due to the fact that we cannot contain our will in the same arena as our understanding, it often overextends and leads us to places our understanding cannot reach. At this point, we are easily deceived and prone to error.
6. p. 86, paragraph beginning "Furthermore, even if." What way does Descartes propose for avoiding making errors? Give an everyday example of an error someone makes in which Descartes's guideline for avoiding error is
1. p. 81, paragraph beginning "To begin with." Why does Descartes think "deception is incompatible with God"?
Descartes believed that “deception is incompatible with God”. This conclusion is based on a relatively simple argument. Descartes makes the assumption that deception is sign of imperfection. He maintains that while the ability to deceive is impressive, the desire to deceive is inherently imperfect and weak. God, however, is perfect in all ways and thus deception is incompatible with God.
2. p. 82, paragraph beginning "Still this is not." In the prior paragraph Descartes argued that God did not give him a faculty expressly for the purpose of making errors. But now he argues that this still leaves a problem. What is the …show more content…
Paragraph beginning on p. 82 "It also occurs" and continuing over to p. 83. How does Descartes think the idea of looking at his place in the universe as a whole might serve to explain his appearing to be imperfect?
Descartes realizes that there are unquestionably imperfect aspects to him. He, however, proposes that one ought to view the entire universe when thinking in terms of perfection. He suggests that something (such as himself) might be imperfect but still serve as a small part in a larger, and perfect, universe.
4. p. 84, lines 8 and 9 from top. Descartes seems to treat "affirm and deny," and "pursue and shun" as two distinct pairs of abilities involved in willing. Can you suggest what difference he might have in mind? (Hint: think about what things one would normally be said to affirm or deny, and what things one would normally speak of pursuing or …show more content…
One may affirm or deny concepts and proposals. Through affirmation or denial people form their ideas and concepts of the world. Pursing and shunning, however, have to do with actions and goals. One either pursues a goal (via action) or shuns the idea (via inaction).
5. p. 84, paragraph beginning "But from these." Here Descartes gives the basic explanation for why we make errors. Briefly, what is it?
Descartes begins with the premise that since God gave us the ability to understand, we must understand things perfectly. However, he explains, the will spreads beyond understanding. Or, put another way, while our ability to understand is constrained by boundaries, our will is not. Due to the fact that we cannot contain our will in the same arena as our understanding, it often overextends and leads us to places our understanding cannot reach. At this point, we are easily deceived and prone to error.
6. p. 86, paragraph beginning "Furthermore, even if." What way does Descartes propose for avoiding making errors? Give an everyday example of an error someone makes in which Descartes's guideline for avoiding error is