Epistemology: 05. Descartes Ontological Argument

Question 1

What does Descartes argue about the chain of causes?

Answer 1

There cannot be an infinite chain of causes.

Question 2

Who does Descartes claim does not keep him in existence?

Answer 2

My parents or any other supposed cause.

Question 3

What are clear and distinct ideas according to Descartes?

Answer 3

Ideas that can be known to be true.

Question 4

What does ‘clear’ mean in the context of Descartes’ ideas?

Answer 4

Present and accessible to the attentive mind.

Question 5

What does ‘distinct’ mean in the context of Descartes’ ideas?

Answer 5

Every part is clear, sharply separated from other ideas.

Question 6

According to Descartes, what must the necessity of a proposition create?

Answer 6

Ascension.

Question 7

What does Descartes claim about the nature of God?

Answer 7

It belongs to God’s nature that he always exists.

Question 8

What is Hume’s objection to Descartes’ argument?

Answer 8

Nothing that is distinctly conceivable implies a contradiction.

Question 9

What does Hume argue about existence and non-existence?

Answer 9

Whatever we conceive as existent, we can also conceive as non-existent.

Question 10

What must be true if ‘God does not exist’ is a contradiction according to Hume?

Answer 10

‘God exists’ must be a relation of ideas.

Question 11

What type of claims does Hume assert exist about existence?

Answer 11

Matters of fact.

Question 12

What does Descartes claim about divine perfections?

Answer 12

All divine perfections entail each other.

Question 13

What does Descartes conclude about God’s existence based on omnipotence?

Answer 13

God must have necessary existence.

Question 14

According to Gaunilo’s objection, when does Descartes’ argument only work?

Answer 14

Only if God exists.

Question 15

What does Gaunilo argue regarding the concept of existence and God?

Answer 15

The interdependence of perfections shows that the concept of existence is part of the concept of God.

Question 16

Which objection is stronger, Hume’s or Gaunilo’s?

Answer 16

This is subjective; the answer may vary.

Question 17

Fill in the blank: The idea of God is the idea of a _______.

Answer 17

supremely perfect being.

Question 18

Outlin the Ontolgical argument

Answer 18

1. I have the idea of God
2. The idea of God is the idea of a supremely perfect being
3. A supremely perfect being does not lack any perfection
4. Exsisitance is a perfection
   C. I exist therfore I am