Study Questions for Descartes, Meditations Four and Five

 

 

Meditation Four

 

  1. The first paragraph sums up the argument so far and points the way forward.  What does Descartes say that he knows now, from which he can “progress ... to the knowledge of other things?
  2. Descartes then turns to an apparent conflict in his conclusions:  He has concluded that God is not a deceiver, and that his mental faculties come from God, yet he knows that he makes mistakes.  Why isn’t God to blame for Descartes’ errors?  (The answer is developed in the rest of this meditation.)
  3. Why does Descartes think that his will is, in a sense, just as great as God’s? (P.84 top half)
  4. How is the will involved in Descartes’ errors? (Pp.84-85)
  5. How does Descartes think he can avoid errors? (P.85)
  6. Why does Descartes not blame God for his (Descartes’) propensity to make errors? (Pp.85-86)
  7. How (again) does Descartes think he can avoid errors and discover truth? (Pp.86-87)

 

 

Meditation Five

 

1)      Descartes says (p.87) that he wants to see which of his ideas about material things are clear and distinct and which are confused.  What does he say about this?  Which of his ideas (about material things) are clear and distinct?

2)      So what is “the essence of material things?”  (The title of Meditation Five seems to promise us an answer to this question.)

3)      How does Descartes attempt (pp.88-90) to prove the existence of God (again)?  Do you find his reasoning sound?  (If not, can you explain why not?)

4)      Why does Descartes think that all of his “true and certain knowledge” depends on his knowledge of God? (Pp.91-92)