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Epistemology

 

" (Sober, 2001; pg158). Descartes was basically trying to say that there are beliefs that are solid and indubitable: beyond any doubt, that can pass his "Method of Doubt" test. (Sober, 2001; pg160). According to Elliot Sober, Descartes" Method of Doubt test declares, "if you see it is possible to doubt a proposition, then it is set aside (this does not mean it is false, just not absolutely certain). If it is not possible to doubt the proposition, then it becomes a foundational belief."(Sober, 2001; pg160). If it were possible to find Foundational beliefs, we could construct Superstructural beliefs by a process called Valid Deduction. Valid Deduction means, "That if the premises were true, then the conclusion would have to be true." (Sober, 2001; pg). What the heck does this mean? For example, take one of Descartes" foundational beliefs: "God exists and is no deceiver." (Descartes, 2001; pg166). I will come to how Descartes justifies this in a moment, but first, let this belief be our premise. From this premise, we could construct a superstructural belief: it is impossible to doubt that God exists. This belief is our conclusion. So, if the premise, God exists and is no deceiver, were true, then the conclusion, it is impossible to doubt the existence of God, would have to be true. .
             How did Descartes try to prove that God exists and is no deceiver? I will try to tell you as simple as possible. Descartes" claim is summed up by Elliot Sober, who says, " Descartes" idea of God is objectively perfect and if an idea is objectively perfect, then the cause must be a perfect being: hence, god exists." (Sober, 2001; pg167). To understand this, we must see that Descartes believed that humans are "imperfect" (Descartes, 2001; pg236); making it impossible for us to conceive, by ourselves, the idea of a perfect being. The idea must come from outside ourselves: God. This argument is flawed. It is not necessary that a perfect being exist for us to have an idea of a perfect being.


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