Descartes Third and Fifth Meditation

Descartes Third and Fifth Meditation

In his works The Meditations on First Philosophy and the Principles of Philosophy, Descartes is trying to prove the existence of three kinds of substance, specifically God, the mind or self, and bodies. Descartes presents the real distinction proof in the sixth meditation of Meditations on First Philosophy and again, as a condensed version, in article 60 of his later work The Principles of Philosophy. Descartes uses this proof to argue that God exists and that body and mind are the same.

In his dedicatory letter in the Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes tells that the primary purpose in his work is to prove that God and the soul exist thoughtfully so that their existence is irrefutably evident. Before trying to argue the existence of bodies, he wants to demonstrate that bodies are entirely separate substances from minds and God, so that he may prove that bodies exist as distinct substances. Descartes needs to conclude that bodies exist as different substances, so that he may set up an argument for the immortality of the soul.

The third and fifth mediation strongly illustrate the existence of God by Descartes mediation. According to Meditation three concerning God, Descartes remarks: “I perceive that the objective being of an idea cannot be produced by a merely potential being (which, strictly speaking, is nothing), but only by an actual or formal being.”. Descartes said otherwise that he has faith in that by purely partaking the God’s impression in him, it also gives an impression of God as genuine being since it might be Him who sited that idea in him. According to fifth Meditation of God’s existence, Descartes indications: “I cannot think of God except as existing, it follows that existence is inseparable from God and that for this reason, he exists” In short, Descartes cannot imagine himself existing without God because of his impression of God being the creator. (Descartes 77 & 89).

The two pieces of evidence are not that much dissimilar from one another. The third and the fifth mediation had similarities in that they both inhibit what Descartes believes in and what he aspires to know. Most of his education was taught in Jesuit college, where it was of more assistance. Throughout the years, Descartes had a strong impression in the existence of a God because Jesuit college is made up of a catholic setting in which most likely he adept the belief of God.

Even though other people do not believe in God, in Descartes mind, God exists, which builds high confidence in his own beliefs, making me understand his third meditation. Having faith in a supreme being is part of Descartes daily life, thus representing “clearly and distinctly” philosophy which will not change because he was raised with a strong catholic faith which is worshipping God. The third meditation sharpens the fifth Meditation as it tells how God is perfect.

I realise differences in these two pieces of evidence such that in the fifth meditation, he has self-confident that God has awarded him guarantee while the third meditation he chains his thought with high sureness towards his ideas. Since I am rooted in religion, I am more convinced by his third meditation compared to the fifth meditation. I have a belief that it is evident for a human being to confide in something or someone able to relief them. According to his third meditation, he proofs that he has a strong faith in God, and no one can change that, as he reflects his position towards religion. It is God who gave him comfort and faith, and I accept to define his faith as an impression which cannot change, making me respect his opinion.

One thing in Descartes’s argument that sticks out as questionable is that Descartes seems to make the jump from “it can exist” to “it does exist.” Specifically, he says that because he can understand the mind separate from the body, God can create it that way, and so it shall exist that way. Still, even if it were true that the mind and body could exist separately because God can make them as such, it does not at all prove that they are separate. Descartes has only been able to establish that it could be that they are different and to conclude that they are separate from this possibility puts a large hole in the credibility of his proof because there is no real evidence to support what he is trying to assert.

I was not convinced by the Descartes’ past events and opinions about the existence of God in his third and fifth meditation after learning his works. I do not agree with the idea of God being a superior and flawless being as he explains about God. I stand for genuineness Descartes grew up in the catholic way of faith where the idea of God instilled in his mind.

Before Descartes can begin his argument, he must first define what a real distinction is. He declares that a real difference is between two or more substances and that an element can only be perceived as distinct when it can be understood without any other substance. He then goes on to say that if we clearly and distinctly understand something, then God can make it in the way that we understand it. He can assert this because since these thoughts are visibly and noticeably tacit, the mind cannot aid but believe them to be true; so, they must be true because if they were not then God would be deceiving the mind, which he cannot do, after all, God is a perfect being. Descartes also believes that God’s power can extend at least as far as our conception, so if Descartes can understand something, then it follows that God can create it, as long as it is a clear and distinct thing or idea.

Reference

R -. Descartes (2013) pg. 77 & pg. 89. Rene Descartes Meditations