Essay about The Existence of God the Arguments of Locke...

Descartes believes that Gods existence is clear and distinct. God exists because the thought of God is derived from a completely clear and distinct idea from within his being (which he concedes is a thinking being). Having come from distinct thoughts, the idea of God can therefore never be considered a falsity. From this very distinct idea of God comes everything else that one grasps distinctly and clearly. He states, From the fact that I cannot think of God not existing, it follows that existence cannot be separated from God and thus that he actually exists. (298) The existence of God is something that cannot be separated, just as we cannot separate the idea of an ocean without sand. Descartes explains that man is a finite†¦show more content†¦Nothing can be added to that perfection. Only man has potential. God gets His existence only from Himself and owes such to no other being because He is the original cause of all things, including Himself. Man is the very proof that God exists. Because man is imbued with a thinking mind that realizes that he gets all his powers, best of all his thinking mind, from his idea of God, then it is impossible for man not to realize that what he perceives of God clearly and distinctly in his mind is a reality, and that reality is the existence of God, a perfect being who can never deceive because by His perfect Being, God is free of defects. God, as a perfect being, is incapable of fraud and deception, two things that are caused by defects. Gods existence is manifested in the way man is able to use his thinking powers to accept his limitations, and at the same time realize that someone greater than man has endowed man with the powers to think and discern clearly and distinctly the idea of a Supreme Being. John Locke starts off his treatise with the thesis that ideas spring from two fountainheads--sensation and reflection. The former, man acquires from external sensible objects that affect mans five senses--those same senses endowed upon all men by the Creator. Material things outside mans being are the objects of sensation. Through experiencing sensation, mans thinking process gives rise to ideas thereby gaining for the thinking being a certain amount ofShow MoreRelatedPropelling Rational Thought Over Compelling Empiricism1459 Words   |  6 PagesIn this paper I intend to examine the rationalist philosophy of Rene Descartes and fundamental empiricism of John Locke’s philosophical arguments, in particular their ideas relating to the science of man, his identity and attempt to explain distinctions between the two. As I lay the framework of my argument it is important to understand the precepts that serve as the underpinning for the views considered by Descartes and Locke res pectively. Rationalism and empiricism are two modes of thought thatRead MoreRene Descartes And John Locke997 Words   |  4 PagesRene Descartes and John Locke each produced pieces of philosophical responses to the questions posed in epistemology which resulted with very different answers. Descartes relied on God and the mind as the only reliable and trustworthy sources to prove the existence of things other than ourselves. Locke, in contrast, made arguments for the existence of things in the external world via our innate ability to recognize and process sensations that are derived from subjects that exist in the material worldRead MoreDescartes And John Locke s Views On Consciousness, Self, And Personal Identity1475 Words   |  6 PagesSeventeenth century philosophers Renà © Descartes and John Locke endeavored to question the views on consciousness, self, and personal identity. They examined belief in God, the certainty of knowledge, and the role of mind and body. The goal of this paper is to deliberate John Locke’s and Renà © Descartes views on â€Å"self† and personal identity and how each come to examine how knowledge is captured. Renà © Descartes and John Locke both present arguments that are rational in the discussion of consciousnessRead More Weaknesses of Descartes Arguments Essays1641 Words   |  7 PagesDescartes was incorrect and made mistakes in his philosophical analysis concerning understanding the Soul and the foundation of knowledge.   Yes, he coined the famous phrase, â€Å"I think therefore I am,† but the rest of his philosophical conclusions fail to be as solid (Meditation 4; 32). Descartes knew that if he has a mind and is thinking thoughts then he must be something that has the ability to think. While he did prove that he is a thinking thing that thinks (Meditation 3; 28), he was unable toRead MoreThe Philosophy of John Locke Essay1221 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Locke, Johnathan’s knowledge did not come from innate ideas or principles, but rather from experiences and sensations. Although John Locke’s thoughts were monumental, flaws exist in the rejection of innate ideas. John Locke begins his argument with a weighty dismissal. Contending innate, or inborn, ideas do not exist. In essence, Locke claims that humans set out as empty cabinets. As time progresses human sensations fill the emptiness with ideas that are then named. Furthermore, Locke continuesRead MoreHow Successful Are Descartes Arguments for the Real Distinction of Mind from Body?1659 Words   |  7 PagesHow successful are Descartes arguments for the real distinction of mind from body? Upon which problem would you put the most weight? Descartes says the mind is distinct from the body, or anything physical for that matter. He says, a thinking substance is nonphysical or spiritual in nature (mind), and an extended substance is physical, but not capable of consciousness or thought (body). However, this very claim is also his biggest problem as his mind Ââ€" body interaction has many critics and toRead MoreAnalysis Of Descartes s The Meditations Essay1285 Words   |  6 PagesOur Ability to Perceive In the Meditations, Descartes abandons his views about everything he knows in the world. During this he discusses the idea of senses relying on the mind rather than the body. The role of senses is shown through his demonstration of the wax example and the ever changing properties the wax entailed. â€Å"The perception I have of it is a case not of vision or touch or imagination†¦but purely of mental scrutiny.† (Descartes 31) To Descartes, the senses were deceiving and could not beRead MorePhilosophy: Do We Have Innate Ideas? Essay1491 Words   |  6 PagesDo we have innate ideas? Offer your view with reference to the work of Descartes and Locke I understand the concept of innate ideas alone means ideas that presents our mind at birth. Descartes and Locke both have their own views about innate ideas and their arguments are completely different to each other and the question remain to the human knowledge. Do innate ideas really exist? Descartes does not put experiences to his philosophy like the other philosophers, Bacon and Hobbes. He believes thatRead MoreEssay about Empiricist vs. Rationalist901 Words   |  4 Pagesphilosophers such as John Locke believe that knowledge must come from experience. Others philosophers such as Descartes believe that knowledge is innate; this way of thinking is used by rationalist. In this paper I will discuss the difference between Descartes rationalism in his essays The Meditations and Lockes empiricism in his essays An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. I will then lend my understanding as to what I believe as the ultimate source of knowledge. Locke discards the suggestionRead MoreMetaphysical Studies Of The Self And Personal Identity1395 Words   |  6 PagesMetaphysical studies of the self and personal identity were near non-existent prior to Renà © Descartes’ â€Å"Meditations on First Philosophy†. While â€Å"Meditations† was not written with the main focus on personal identity, Descartes makes assertions regarding the subject through the possessive voice. Most of the assertions regarding personal identity materialize in Mediations two and six. By using â€Å"I† in his essay, his epistemological paper is turned into a paper that also concerns self, consciousness