Thursday, February 7, 2008
Discourse Part 5, Paragraph 12
In Discourse part 5 in paragraph 12, Descartes puts forth a very strong opinion that he believes in God. Descartes says, "...for, after the error of those who deny the existence of God (which I think I have sufficiently refuted)...". It seems as though he really wants his readers to know that he beleives in the existence of God. He also makes it seem like you are wrong if you deny the existence of God.
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5 comments:
I don't understand how D's opinion about God can go back and forth so much in this book. Is it really just to cover himself from actually doubting God? I often wonder why he would be so believing in God, but yet he would wonder and question why animals were created lacking intelligence and to not be as smart as humans. So wouldn't that be questioning God, the creator of (as D states)of the heavens, winds... HUMANS.. He states in part 5, paragraph 2 on page 24 about all..."the infinite perfections of God..."? So he believes in him.. but questions God's doings? Very contradicting!
Yes, i strongly beleive that all his contradicting is to cover up what he truely beleives. We do not know what he beleives because his words in his book are written proof of his thoughts and he would not want to ruin his self image by being frowned upon by the church if he had an opposing opinion then them.
Since he uses metaphors alot in this book, maybe he isn't contradicting himself because "God" is not God. Read my post. It could be someone else that could do the same thing. Mother Nature?
The way Descartes put "which I think I have sufficiently refuted" in parenthesis says a lot to me. He does this to seem like it should already be known that he accepts and believes in God. He wants no misunderstanding about this belief what-so-ever, it should be clear to all how he feels on this particular matter. With a subject like this, there is no room for error. Also to emphasize his strong opinion, he says "deny the existence of God". Deny definatley has a negative connotation, in which those who may feel this way should be ashamed of this feeling.
Yeah, I feel like he tries very hard to make sure it is known that he beleives in God. But you really don't know because his written words are proof and he can be "blackmailed", so to speak, if he said something that would imply that he did not beleive in God.
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