Introduction
René Descartes remains one of the greatest thinkers whose ideas, conceptions, and philosophical thoughts continue to guide human beings today. In this paper, I will argue that Descartes’ Cogito principle supports the viewpoint that the cosmological idea of God is specific, meaning He exists, and He should have triggered its conception. First, I will introduce Descartes’ concept of the Cogito and how it supports his argument regarding the existence of God.
Second, I will provide a detailed analysis of the cosmological perspective to describe the same concept. Third, I will present a solid discussion defending Descartes’ arguments. Finally, I will conclude by stating conclusively that Descartes’ cosmological viewpoint is reasonable and capable of explaining the existence of God. Descartes relies on the Cogito principle to support the existence of God, thereby making it a cogent cosmological argument.
Descartes’ Cosmological Argument
The foundational thought surrounding Descartes’ view regarding the existence of God is evident in the Cogito. The term emerges as a self-validating attribute whereby individuals realize and accept their feelings and words as accurate. With the conception of an idea of God, Descartes is convinced that a clear perception and understanding of God exists in the human mind.
The scenario would resemble the powerful Cogito attribute (Peralta 75). To support this idea further, Descartes equates the notion of someone’s knowledge of their own existence with the presence of God in the universe. This form of understanding guides the philosopher to develop his cosmological argument.
People who conceive God as a supreme creature should begin by considering the nature of its origin. Being an intense or immeasurable attribute, it remains certain that a higher power existing in the universe could have led to its inception. Descartes simplifies his thought by indicating that an idea that emerges in the human being should have a specific source or origin.
Given that God is the perfection of all things in the universe, He should be involved in or part of the process (Wawrzonkowski 181). This means that God is the one who places the idea of His existence in the minds and souls of His people. Without His existence, Descartes appears convinced that it would have been impossible for people to think about Him.
In response to Thomas Hobbes, a philosopher who challenged the outlined observations, Descartes argued that an idea in the human mind differed from an image. This specific answer was informed by Hobbes’ view that people could not develop the idea without having a true or acceptable image that could be depictive of God (Peralta 76). With emerging oppositions and viewpoints, the philosopher was able to consider a reconstructed approach in an effort to explain why the existence of God was unquestionable.
In most reconstructions of Descartes’ philosophical viewpoints, analysts indicate how Descartes begins by explaining how humans recognize their own imperfection and ignorance. This scenario would describe the doubts many people harbor in their lives. Human beings will appreciate their weaknesses and imperfections and consider the best ways to deal with them.
With this observation, the same individuals would be aware of an existing perfect power in the universe. This authority enables people to recognize when they have weaknesses, remain ignorant, or fail to uphold acceptable morals (Peralta 76). Human beings would constantly think and develop a unique idea about God. It is through this process that the notion of absolute perfection emerges. From this understanding, this attribute supports people’s appreciation of God.
Descartes devises his cosmological argument to explain and support the existence of God. This position arises from people’s ability to conceive of a supernatural being. Having developed his idea, Descartes remains convinced that God is the one who should have introduced it and put it in the human mind (Wawrzonkowski 182). His epistemological approach delivers a causal explanation whereby God’s invocation is the one who supplies the unique feature of the cosmological world. People will only need to adopt this form of understanding if they wish to determine whether God exists.
Defending Descartes’ Argument
From the studied ideas and viewpoints, it becomes clear that Descartes presents a solid argument in favor of his cosmological description of God’s existence. To deliver the intended message, the philosopher begins by describing the nature of the emerging idea regarding the possibility of a supernatural being (Wawrzonkowski 186). According to the philosopher, this form of conception would only be possible if a higher power somewhere existed. The same source of authority would be capable of guiding people to clearly understand most of the issues related to perfection and human incompleteness. The described form of authority is capable of helping people learn more about what is good, imperfect, and acceptable.
Additional insights have emerged to support the validity and acceptability of Descartes’ cosmological argument. For instance, Wawrzonkowski indicates that the origin of human beings and all creatures could be associated with a higher power somewhere (187). The outlined source of authority appears to have unique attributes that can guide how creatures relate and pursue their aims.
Samson further argues that God presents a unique power capable of dictating all subsequent items and ideas in the universe (139). Based on this knowledge, Descartes argues that nothing in the universe, whether concepts, ideas, or opinions, would arise without a source or from nothing. Descartes relies on the described thought to identify it as the origin of the idea that God exists.
In most of his works, Descartes employs the notion that a perfect or higher power may exist in the universe, serving as the source or origin of various things. The attributes of God’s authority describe how others perceive the actions and ideas existing in the world. Ilodigwe is convinced that the perfect source Descartes outlines has the potential to guide more people to pursue their mental, social, psychological, and even spiritual goals (25). The higher power becomes a unique reality capable of maximizing efficiency and presenting a cause-and-effect scenario in the universe (Wawrzonkowski 187). With this form of understanding, it would be possible to appreciate and agree with Descartes regarding his cosmological arguments, which describe the presence of God.
Without relying on arbitral definitions or viewpoints, Descartes stands out as a great philosopher who follows an innate idea to explain the existence of God. The thinker’s argument is plausible because it applies the aspects of the cosmological world and their relationship with existing ideas. With human beings possessing adequate competencies and abilities, Descartes remains convinced that the subsequent attributes must have a unique source. This origin appears knowledgeable and capable of determining right and wrong (Wawrzonkowski 192).
The identified kind of existence enables people to recognize when they commit mistakes or fall short of ethical behavior or conduct. Human beings will benefit from an innate understanding of most issues surrounding them and how to resolve most recorded challenges, issues, and developments. Consequently, these individuals would be aware of a higher power capable of influencing and judging their actions.
From this analysis, Descartes’ philosophy regarding the cosmological existence of God is acceptable since it begins with the idea that there could be a higher power. Only through the discussed authority can human beings acquire innate opinions (Peralta 90). It becomes clear that the idea of God meets the threshold of the Cogito. Consequently, people’s opinions and understanding regarding the nature and existence of God remain distinct and clear. The application of Descartes’ attributes would lead the reader to acknowledge that God should have instilled such an understanding in the human mind, providing a convincing reason for His existence.
Conclusion
Descartes’ cosmological argument regarding the existence of God is acceptable and valid since it is founded on the Cogito principle. His position guides analysts to begin by examining the idea of God and how human beings conceive it. This process would emerge since God should be the one who triggers its conception. Using a cosmological approach, the thinker can explain why people must examine the surrounding environment, describe how thoughts emerge, and monitor their relationship with a higher source of authority. The identified attributes present strong reasoning for defending Descartes’ cosmological argument regarding the existence of God.
Works Cited
Ilodigwe, Damian. “Aquinas and the Question of God’s Existence: Exploring the Five Ways.” International Journal of Philosophy and Theology, vol. 6, no. 1, 2018, pp. 19-32.
Peralta, Camilo. ““Without Evidence … But Not Groundless”: The Scientific Basis of Christian Apologetics.” Berkeley Journal of Religion and Theology, vol. 4, no. 1, 2018, pp. 74-98.
Samson, David. “Prudential Versus Probative Arguments for Religious Faith: Descartes and Pascal on Reason and Faith.” Religions, vol. 8, no., 2017, pp. 136-150.
Wawrzonkowski, Krzysztof. “Thomas Hobbes’s Elements of Law and His third Objections to Descartes’s meditations.” Descartes’ Epistemology Special Issue, vol. 68, no. 2, 2020, pp. 179-194.