Trademark argument The trademark argument
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| Trademark argument
The trademark argument is an a priori argument for the existence of God developed by French philosopher and mathematician, René Descartes. The argument, though similar to the ontological argument, differs in some respects, since it seeks to prove the existence of God through the causal adequacy principle (CAP) as opposed to analysing the definition of the word God.
In book 3 of his Meditations, Descartes puts forward an argument for God's existence. This argues that God exists from the evidence of the mark of the maker that can be found within us, as Descartes describes it: 'the artisans trademark imprinted on his work'. This mark is the idea of God's perfection. Descartes argues:
The reasons behind this argument being put forward (aside from the historical context of the time in which Descartes worked) can be seen from the placing of this argument in the overall structure of the Meditations. In book one Descartes has shown that it is possible to doubt everything (demolishing knowledge as it was understood at the time). In book two Descartes, as part of his attempts to build a new system of knowledge, starts on the foundations, and demonstrates an argument for the existence of his mind (the Cogito). As Descartes is a creationist Christian, before he can move on to proving the existence of the objective world he must first prove the existence of the creator. This fits with his concept of the cause having at least as much reality as the effect. As he follows back the chain of cause and effect Descartes ultimately reaches the point of creation and thus the ultimate cause. This cause is the most real, he argues, as it has no cause and thus cannot be denied or doubted. Although this argument relies heavily on the thoughts of medieval philosophers such as Thomas Aquinas, the clarity of logic of the argument must be admired, and indeed this is one of the arguments strongest points. Directory: file -> view view -> Stage I established Goals view -> Abolition and Women’s Rights in Antebellum America Abolitionism (pp. 344-354) view -> Questions: Why did they call for ending slavery? view -> Group 3b dbq project: 19 view -> The British West Indies were islands that were colonized by Great Britain, stretching across the Caribbean from Jamaica through the Lesser Antilles to British Guiana view -> Secretary of the Treasury Samuel Chase sought to fund the Union war effort by doing all of the following view -> Abolition: the action or an act of abolishing a system, practice, or institution Download 7.6 Kb. Share with your friends:
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