(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Descartes, Hume and the Existence of God

.
             The idea of being infinite implies that there is existence. Thus God exists. Descartes draws his last conclusion that God exists because of the reasoning that he is imperfect but able to possess the idea of perfection. Descartes believed that he was his own cause. From there he believed that if he is his own cause and he had the idea of perfection, then he is perfect. Descartes reasoned that he is imperfect, making a contradiction with himself that if he is imperfect then he can't be perfect. Through this reasoning Descartes had to reject the idea that he was perfect and imperfect. Descartes still possessed the idea of perfection even though he was imperfect. Descartes reasoned that if he wasn't perfect then he had to discard the idea that he is his own cause and that God is his cause to allow him to possess the idea of perfection. Thus God exists. .
             Descartes ruled out that the Evil Genius could be implanting thoughts of the existence God in his mind due to the fact that God is perfect, and I said above, the Evil Genius is not perfect. In order for people to accept Descartes Philosophical reasoning, they need to believe that there is a God. Descartes presupposition is that everyone who reads his meditations is people who believe in the existence of God and that he is perfect. If people don't have those presuppositions (i.e. Atheists) then Descartes argument is disregarded because that's the basis around how certainty is achieved. I believe that Descartes argument for the existence of God makes logical sense and satisfies the need for his other argument that we need to know if anything is certain anymore because of the Evil Genius. I am convinced of the argument that he uses to contradict the Evil Genius. The steps of reasoning Descartes goes through to contradict the idea of an Evil Genius logically makes sense and is convincing that there is a God. .
             Descartes Vs. Hume .
             Descartes lived from 1596-1650; he was a rationalist who wrote a book named Meditations on First Philosophy.


Essays Related to Descartes, Hume and the Existence of God

1. Descartes and Hume - Rationalism and Empiricism

... fellow creatures, and not ready to pronounce what is good and what is evil without father regard or consideration"(Hume 211). Secondly, Hume disagrees over the existence of God because he is an atheist and does not believe in any "higher" being. "It seems evident, that such a solitary being would be as much incapable if justice and moral conversation" (Hume 206). Finally, Hume would criticize Descartes for his ... statement of not believing something is real without proof because he ... ...

  • Word Count: 1023
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Descartes

... discussing the existence of external objects, Descartes must also include the existence of God. The existence of God is based upon the "ontological argument". The ontological argument is that God is a "being than which none greater can be thought". The meaning of the argument is that the concept of God is the greatest being who can be thought, and therefore He must exist. The counter argument is an argument against the ontological argument. It discusses that existence is an essential property and part of the definition of a thing, that is God. The ... . The problem of perception continue...

  • Word Count: 701
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

3. The Existence Of God

... and forgiving. Plato definition of God is a craftsman that governs the universe. Aristotle's version of God is not a personal being like we find in Christian tradition. His God performs no more acts of will or love than gravity. Aquinas's God has inapprehensible divine essence, which is identical to his existence, and he directs all natural things to their end. Descartes God is an infinite perfect being that causes all effects including ideas. Hume on the ... other hand argues, that the cause of the finite ... ...

  • Word Count: 1699
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Test: Concepts of Philosophy

... it does not prove that there is actually anything out there. Descartes has a lot of arguments for his knowledge and he even covers the counter arguments of his points. Reason just does not achieve as much as Descartes knowledge. Hume uses the term perceptions to describe these things that we are aware of while Descartes uses the term idea. When Hume uses the term ideas, he means a perception that is there in consciousness ... one is not able to prove the existence of God. He goes after these notions of the existence of God with a notion of paradox. When he talks about a paradox he is me...

  • Word Count: 4182
  • Approx Pages: 17
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Does God Exist

... one came into existence. The 18th century, better known as the Enlightenment, initiated a paradigm shift in metaphysical thought. Empiricism and Rationalism are contrasting schools of philosophy which portray the attitudes of the Enlightenment, these philosophies radically changed the contemporary thought of religion, and human existence, but most importantly empiricism, academically questioned the existence of God. Descartes, a chief exponent to rationalism, argued the Empirical premises and maintained that God necessarily exists. Descartes" argumentation is flawed and does not adequate...

  • Word Count: 1995
  • Approx Pages: 8

6. Epistemology - Philosophical Study of Knowledge

... is built up with a strong foundation. It is beliefs based on other beliefs, but on the bottom is a firm foundation of belief. It doesnt appeal to the senses and the use of pure reason to get knowledge is a necessity. The Cogito Argument provides the foundation for knowledge, I think, therefore I am (Descartes p.202).The Cogito is the first instance of a truth that cannot be doubted .When he speaks about I" he is referring to ... because it is being perceived by God. Berkeley accepts subjective idealism, all that exist are minds and their ideas (Berkeley p.218). An additional empiricist,...

  • Word Count: 1055
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

7. On David Hume And Rene Descartes

... our modern philosophy we have not even began to scratch the surface of what causes the nature of things around us. Our philosophy is centered on the idea of cause and effect or interaction with the external world or for some philosophers being aware of certain and necessary truths. Descartes focus on the concept of methodological doubt and the concept of innate knowledge and oppose against Hume's experimental knowledge and cause effect relations. From my perspective whether a person realizes ... is that of the faith in God or whatever that some of us hold to be true no matter what convi...

  • Word Count: 1541
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

8. Compare empiricism and rationalism

... . Like Descartes, Locke trusts that God assures the reliability of his sensory beliefs. Locke's belief in the existence of God is argumentative. He believes that reason will convince any intelligent person that God must exist as a first cause. In the Essay, he tries to demonstrate this, by saying, "though God has given us no innate ideas of himself." Locke takes God's existence to be "the most obvious truth reason discovers." John Locke and David Hume upheld the belief ... oar when is immerse half in water attempt to be bent, but instead is straight. Descartes think that we cannot always...

  • Word Count: 2949
  • Approx Pages: 12
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

9. On david hume and rene descartes

... our modern philosophy we have not even began to scratch the surface of what causes the nature of things around us. Our philosophy is centered on the idea of cause and effect or interaction with the external world or for some philosophers being aware of certain and necessary truths. Descartes focus on the concept of methodological doubt and the concept of innate knowledge and oppose against Hume's experimental knowledge and cause effect relations. From my perspective whether a person realizes ... is that of the faith in God or whatever that some of us hold to be true no matter what convi...

  • Word Count: 1525
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question