The Rationalists Descartes Rational Truth God the return

The Rationalists: Descartes Rational Truth, God (the return), and the Cartesian Circle Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 1

Meditation 4: Reminder Theory of Error: Misuse of Will outside of the limits of our understanding Theory of Truth: Use our will within the limits of our understanding! Importance of power of the will Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 2

Outline Meditation 5: 1. Rational truths 2. Existence of God – Ontological Argument 3. Cartesian Circle Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 3

Rational Truths Distinct ideas about the bodies: mathematical notions – extension in time These ideas are innate: I discover them in my mind While they “live” in my mind, their truth is still independent of my mind: - I did not fabricate them - They have true properties that are independent of my mind (even if they exist in my mind) Rejection of empiricism: not all abstract ideas can come from the senses à Descartes’ Rationalism Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 4

Rationalism vs Empiricism EMPIRICISM RATIONALISM All knowledge comes from experience Some knowledge comes from pure reason (indep. of experience) Knowledge not perfectly grounded – different levels of skepticism / agnosticism Knowledge from pure reason is superior to knowledge from experience – true knowledge Mathematical truths and logic: generalization from the senses and void of content Mathematical truths and logic: - Part of our hardware - Necessary Truths Metaphysics: Only sensible, observable bodies exist Metaphysics: Not only sensible bodies, but also ideas and/or laws etc. exist à How to choose? Ockham’s razor and the reasons why we postulate non-observable entities. Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 5

Ontological Argument A mathematical demonstration: idea of God is innate like the idea of the triangle – we can make the same kind of reasoning The argument: The idea of God contains Its existence Example: The triangle, the mountain and the valley Objections: Mountain and the valley don’t exits, different idea of God à Descartes’ version of the Ontological Argument à Pb: premise that no non-believer would accept Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 6

Cartesian Circle A vicious circle? 1. The existence of a truthful God relies on the truth of clear and distinct ideas 2. The Truth of clear and distinct ideas relies on the existence of God Answer: 1. The ontological argument is not what guarantees the truth of clear and distinct ideas (proofs of God in Med. 3, not five) 2. “truth of clear and distinct ideas” does not mean the same is (1) and (2) above: truth of an instant / eternal truth Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 7

Meditation 5: Conclusion We started the reconstruction: rational truths recovered Descartes’ theory of ideas: rationalism What remains to show: the existence of the external, material world. Soazig Le Bihan - University of Montana 8