Show and Tell

(In response to the assignment of show and tell, René Descartes Discourse on Method IV)

Link: http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/texts/descartes/descartes_method.html

Descartes, born in the late 1500's, is very important philosopher to the Christians. In Descartes Discourses on Method sets out prove the existence of God. He realizes, however, that in order to do so he cannot base his reasoning on anything of this world because there are mistakes in everything. Even if there is a possibility of perfection there is still possibility of failure and because of this he must resolve to strip himself of all modern knowledge as well as the senses. The first three discourses on method are an outline on how Descartes will set up his quest for knowledge of his own uninfluenced by the senses and mans fallacies.

In the 4th discourse Descartes starts his experience. He strips himself to only his mind and not his senses. This is where the phrase "I think, Therefore I am" comes from. So, Descartes proves that he exists because he is thinking. He then says, "I was led to inquire whence I had learned to think of something more perfect than myself; and I clearly recognized that I must hold this notion from some nature which in reality was more perfect." He talks about how he can look out into nature and know that he is better than the sky, or a tree, because he is capable of things that they are not. He also knows that the notion of these things were not inherent in his mind because he has seen them. However, he has not seen this perfect being, there is nothing that suggests that one exists; yet still there is a notion in his mind that a being more powerful than him exists. This notion can only be explained in one way. That there is a God. Something that had to begin, something that had to have placed the notion in all that is living, that has placed his imprint on all of nature and on all of his creation.

The Discourse on Method IV is powerful in the sense that Descartes stripped himself of everything that he knew and yet still came up with a concept of a God. This speaks volumes to us as humans and especially to us as Christians.

I encourage all of you to go to the link and read the Discourse on Method IV, if you cannot read all of it at least read the 4th paragraph where this post speaks of. Hopefully it will mean as much to you as it has meant to me.