Philosophy Quiz 4 studyguide

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Palm Beach State College *

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Philosophy

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Feb 20, 2024

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Philosophy Quiz 4 1. What is Descartes’ method as applied in meditation I and II? ● Descartes' method is the process of reducing obscure, complex, and uncertain propositions, judgments, and ideas to simpler propositions, judgements, and ideas through empirical and observational judgments. 2. What is the simplest principle in Descartes’ method? ● The simplest principle in descartes’ method is the self-evident axiom “I Exist”. 3. Radical solipsistic skepticism? ● Radical solipsistic skepticism is the belief that only one’s own mind is sure to exist and that the external world and the existence of other minds cannot be known. 4. What is the causal proof for God’s Existence from meditation III? ● The causal proof states that the idea of a perfect being, such as God, cannot be caused by an imperfect being. Therefore, only God could have caused the idea of God in Descartes’ mind, leading to the conclusion that God exists. 5. What does Arnauld’s circle refer to? ● Refers to the fallacy in Descartes causal proof for God’s Existence where he invokes the principle of ‘clearness and distinctness” to justify premises in his argument, but the reliability of his principle depends on the existence of God, which he is trying to prove. 6. Why does Descartes commit the fallacy of Arnauld’s circle? ● He does this to introduce premises that would otherwise not be justified in his proof. 7. What are the three types of ideas distinguished by descartes? ● Adventitious ideas - ideas that appear to be caused by an external source. ● Factitious ideas - ideas that appear to be caused by the will. ● Innate ideas- ideas that appear to have been present in the mind at birth. 8. What is the idea that is radically distinct from all other ideas in Descartes’ mind? ● The idea of a perfect being, specially the idea of God. 9. What is Descartes’ basis for introducing philosophical principles and distinctions in his discussion of the idea of God?

● His basis is based on their clarity and distinctness, even though he does not justify their validity 10. What are Empirical and Observational Judgments? ● Judgments based on direct observation or experience. 11. What objections are raised against Descartes’ Cogito argument? ● Is Descartes truly justified in claiming certainty about the existence of a unified mind. ● Does anything logically follow from the proposition ‘I exist’? 12.What does Descartes aim to establish in meditation III? ● The existence of an omnibenevolent, omnipotent and omniscient God. 13.What is the Causal proof for God’s existence? ● Descartes argument that God must exist because the idea of a perfect being cannot derive from an imperfect being. 14.What is one objection to Descartes’ Cogito argument? ● One objection is that Descartes’ argument only establishes certainty about the existence of conscious activity, not a unified and rational self. 15.How does Descartes establish certainty in his ideas in Meditation III? ● Descartes establishes certainty in his ideas in meditation III by relying on the existence of an omnibenevolent, omnipotent, and omniscient God who would not deceive him. 16.What distinctions does Descartes make regarding ideas? ● Adventitious ideas - caused by external sources, not necessarily reliable. 17.How does Descartes establish certainty about the existence of a unified mind? ● Descartes argues that meditation I and II establish with certainty the presence of sensory impressions, abstract ideas, and cognitive processes, which indicate the presence of a unified and rational self. 18.What is the Principle of Sufficient Reason (PSR)? ● The PSR states that for anything that is the case/exists, there is a sufficient reason for why it is the case/exists rather than not. 19.What is the Principle of Adequate Reality (PAR)? The PAR states that there must be as much or more reality in the reason/cause as in the effect. It is also known as the Causal Adequacy Principle. 20.Formal Reality

● Formal reality refers to a thing that exists independently of mind/consciousness and does not depend upon the presence of a thinker, perceiver, or observer. 21.Objective Reality ● Objective reality refers to something that has existence dependent upon mind/consciousness and requires a thinker, perceiver, or observer. It is less real and less perfect than something with formal reality. 22.Properties (Qualities/Attributes) ● Properties are the lowest degree of reality and perfection, as they are dependent upon the existence of something else. They are constantly changing and cease to exist when the things they are properties of cease to exist. 23.Finite Substances ● Finite substances are of a middle-level degree of reality and perfection compared to properties. They are more stable and do not change as long as the thing exists. They require something else to cause their existence. 24.Infinite Substance ● Infinite substance is the highest degree of reality and perfection. It is the most independent thing, representing God. 25.What is the distinction between formal and objective reality? ● Formal reality refers to things that exist independently of mind/consciousness, while objective reality depends on mind/consciousness. Ideas, thoughts, and representations have objective reality but no formal reality. 26.How does Descartes apply the Principle of Adequate Reality to ideas? ● Descartes concludes that the cause of each idea must have at least as much formal reality as what the idea represents. The ultimate causes of ideas must have formal reality but cannot themselves be ideas. 27.How does Descartes argue for the existence of God? ● Descartes argues that since he, as a finite substance, cannot be the cause of the idea of God (representing an infinite substance), the idea of God must be caused by an infinite substance, thus concluding that God exists.

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28. What is the distinction between formal reality and objective reality? ● Formal reality refers to things that exist independently of mind or consciousness. These things have their own existence and do not rely on the presence of a thinker, perceiver, or observer. ● objective reality refers to things that depend on mind or consciousness for their existence. These things exist because they are perceived, thought about, or observed by someone. Ideas, judgments, thoughts, and representations have objective reality but lack formal reality. 29. What is the distinction between adventitious, factitious, and innate ideas? ● Adventitious ideas: These are ideas that come from external sources, such as sensory perception. They are derived from the interaction between the mind and the external world. For example, the idea of a tree or a table that we perceive through our senses would be considered adventitious ideas. ● Factitious ideas: Factitious ideas are those that are created by the mind itself. They are not derived directly from external sources, but rather constructed by the mind through the process of imagination or reasoning. For example, the idea of a unicorn or a flying car would be considered factitious ideas because they are not directly derived from sensory perception. ● Innate ideas: Innate ideas are those that are said to be present in the mind from birth or as part of our inherent nature. They are not derived from external sources or constructed by the mind, but rather believed to be innate and inherent to our being. Descartes argues that the idea of God is an innate idea, as it is something that is present in the mind and is experienced as being radically distinct from other ideas. 30. How did Descartes proceed after employing the method of doubt and reaching the first axiomatic truth? ● After employing the method of doubt and reaching the first axiomatic truth, Descartes proceeds by examining the idea of God. He aims to determine the cause of this idea and what sets it apart from other ideas in the mind. Descartes accepts two self-evident principles: the Principle of Sufficient Reason (PSR) and the Principle of Adequate Reality (PAR). The PSR states that for anything that exists, there is a sufficient reason for its existence. The PAR states that there must be as much or more reality in the cause as in the effect. Descartes applies these principles to his discussion of ideas and their representation of reality. He concludes that the cause of an idea must have at least as much formal reality as the content of the idea. Descartes then questions whether he, as a finite substance, can be the cause of the idea of God, which represents an infinite substance. He argues that if the idea of God were caused by his own mind, there would be less reality and perfection in the cause than in the effect. However, this argument is problematic as the idea of God, like any other idea, only has objective reality and is not a substance.

31. Causal proof of God's existence ● To establish the causal proof of God's existence, Descartes presents the following argument: - Descartes has an idea of God, which is an objective reality. - This idea must have a cause, according to the Principle of Sufficient Reason. - Descartes applies the Principle of Adequate Reality (PAR), which states that the cause of an idea must have at least as much formal reality as the content of the idea. - The idea of God is more perfect than Descartes' finite mind, so if the idea of God were caused by Descartes' own mind, there would be less reality/perfection in the cause than in the effect. - Therefore, the cause of the idea of God must be some formal reality that is more perfect than Descartes' own mind. - Descartes concludes that the cause of the idea of God is an infinite substance, which he identifies as God. - Therefore, God exists. However, there are several problems with Descartes' argument. ● Firstly, Descartes assumes the Principle of Sufficient Reason, which he is not allowed to assume. Secondly, he misapplies the Principle of Adequate Reality by treating the idea of God as though it were itself an infinite substance. The idea of God is just an idea and does not confer any higher ontological status or degree of reality or perfection. Lastly, Descartes' argument contains circular reasoning, known as Arnauld's Circle, which undermines its validity. In summary, Descartes' causal proof of God's existence is flawed due to the assumptions he makes and the misapplication of the principles involved.

Philosophy Quiz 4 studyguide

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