Would not existing put a limitation on the idea of infinity?
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC Room 271
Start Date
15-5-2014
End Date
15-5-2014
Keywords
Philosophy, Ontology, God
Abstract
Rene Descartes gives an ontological argument for the existence of God in his “Fifth Meditation.” He claims to have a vivid and clear idea of God, and a vivid and clear idea of God having the property of perfection. Perfection entails the property of existence, because in order for something to be perfect, it has to actually exist. Therefore, God has the property of existence, that is, God exists. Descartes’ argument relies on his vivid and clear perceptions. Earlier in his Meditations, he argued that a vivid and clear perception is unquestionable, or self-evident. I argue that Descartes’ ontological argument for the existence of God does not prove the existence of God because Descartes could not have vividly and clearly perceived God to have the property of perfection. Given that a vivid and clear perception is unquestionable, if I prove that God’s property of perfection is questionable, Descartes’ ontological argument falls apart. The goal of my paper is to show that God’s property of perfection is inseparable from God’s property of infinity, God’s property of infinity is questionable, and thus God’s property of perfection is questionable. Since God’s property of perfection is questionable, it could not have been provided by a vivid and clear perception.
Recommended Citation
Stankus, Melanie, "Would not existing put a limitation on the idea of infinity?" (2014). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 78.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2014/oralpresentations/78
Additional Mentoring Department
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Would not existing put a limitation on the idea of infinity?
SURC Room 271
Rene Descartes gives an ontological argument for the existence of God in his “Fifth Meditation.” He claims to have a vivid and clear idea of God, and a vivid and clear idea of God having the property of perfection. Perfection entails the property of existence, because in order for something to be perfect, it has to actually exist. Therefore, God has the property of existence, that is, God exists. Descartes’ argument relies on his vivid and clear perceptions. Earlier in his Meditations, he argued that a vivid and clear perception is unquestionable, or self-evident. I argue that Descartes’ ontological argument for the existence of God does not prove the existence of God because Descartes could not have vividly and clearly perceived God to have the property of perfection. Given that a vivid and clear perception is unquestionable, if I prove that God’s property of perfection is questionable, Descartes’ ontological argument falls apart. The goal of my paper is to show that God’s property of perfection is inseparable from God’s property of infinity, God’s property of infinity is questionable, and thus God’s property of perfection is questionable. Since God’s property of perfection is questionable, it could not have been provided by a vivid and clear perception.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Bartlett, Gary