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Descartes 'Meditations On The First Philosophy'

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a) the question that drives the paper:
Does Descartes believe in free will? What does Descartes human freedom amounts to?

b) the position that the paper will take on the question:
Descartes does not believe in actual free will but merely the illusion he creates with the concept of free will.
c) how the paper will argue that position:
Through the several “Meditations on the First Philosophy” by Renè Descartes: Meditations: 1, 3, and 4
2. Background information (this could also be covered in the introduction)
a) defining terms:
• Free will: for a person do do what they want without another holding authority over them or having a pre-destined fate.
b) parameters:
Descartes believes that a person has free will in the sense that we are able to …show more content…

If a person were to have free will, he or she would not have a pre-determined fate. Thus, this means that Descartes does not believe in actual free will but rather an illusion of it.
3. First reason:
The first meditation argues that there could be an ‘evil demon’ (not God) who has been manipulation our senses to believe false truths.
a) your reason
This idea contradicts the idea of free will because this belief shows that there are external forces that are convincing a person to do or believe something, thus, taking away his or her free will.
c) anticipated objections:
It can be argued that because senses are manipulated, free will is still what determines a person’s fate in that situation as they are being manipulated. In a sense, that person has the option to be manipulated or not.
d) refutation of objections:
Although a person may think that an altered situation still means that they have the opportunity of free will, the evil genius arguments goes against that idea. In a sense, their actions and thoughts are both influenced by this evil genius, and in some way, pre-determined, as well.
4. Second …show more content…

c) anticipated objections
One can argue that there is no evidence that God deceives us.
d) refutation of objections
While there is no evidence if we are being deceived by God, that does not mean that it is not true. Like the ‘evil demon,’ our logic and actions can all be influenced by God. Thus, we are not exactly exercising our free will.
5. Third reason:
Descartes comes to a realization that God is not deceiving and we have a free will to choose our own path within the Fourth Meditation.
a) your reason it is clear that Descartes knows God has a high uphold on the world and on the people. This could diminish the idea of free will itself, by contradicting with Descartes beliefs.
c) anticipated objections
While there may be an idea that God does not influence our senses through deception. In addition, if God is all knowing, then that means God knows our fate.
d) refutation of objections
Even if God is not deceiving, that may not necessarily mean our senses are still not altered. They may be altered by God, just not through deception. Also, God may have a pre-determined destiny for each person. Thus, regardless of any ‘free will’ they have, any choice will end in the pre-destined

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