Thesis on "Rene Descartes Meditations 1 And 2 Existence"

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Cartesian Philosophy - For Descartes, it was important to attempt to uncover the certainty of ideas, and the basic thought process and center of "though itself" of primary importance. For example, if Descartes doubted the veracity of something, then his doubting must prove that he exists and is true…. To doubt is to think, to think is to exist. True as a basic axiom and metaphysical truth for Descartes and the very starting point for his views of humanity, the universe, and even the divine.. Taking this a step further, we must look at Descartes' manner of looking at the divine and the cosmos. Remembering the time period in which he lived, it was important that he be able to justify the divine in his own works. Therefore, Descartes finds that: a) Man is subject to doubt, therefore imperfect. If imperfect, he must not be the cause of his own existence; b) If Man can envision the idea of the perfect, the ability to form this idea must come from the Creator; c) If one can argue the perfect and the creation, this must then imply that the Creator exists (Broughton). God then, in Cartesian philosophy, is a true substance, more idea than religious, and is the first and most basic principle of the universe; other ideas outside of God are derived from observation and sensation, and may be true or false, with only innate ideas being completely valid. This proof of the divine moves then to a distinct idea of extension and the universe then, must be created by God as a larger machine in which all substances, organic and inorganic, are part of that machine and have a particular form and use (Garber).

However, before we can analyze rationalism, we must first understand that if Descartes proves the existence of the world, man, and the universe through… READ MORE