To what extend does Descartes’ “discovery” of consciousness allow for his a priori proof of God in Meditation V? How does the Cartesian concept of “clear and distinct ideas” lead to Descartes’ ontological proof of God’s existence and essence? Is Descartes’ clear and distinct doctrine logical, or does he employ circular reasoning? Before shifting his attention to God and his existence, Descartes in Discourse IV, l1) logically infers consciousness and later, in Meditation Two, 2) discovers it existentially. Descartes achieves this feat 1) by coming to the realization that the mere act of pondering his existence proves he is (“I think, therefore I am”) and 2) by building upon said realization to conclude, that if he is thinking or even being …show more content…
I do not think Descartes would disagree with Anselm’s assertion, but he builds upon and strengthens the ontological proof with 1) asserting God’s perfection and 2) by applying his doctrine of clear and distinct ideas. Much like the idea of a triangle, the concept of God exists within Descartes “no less…than the idea of any figure or number”. (Med.V.65). Descartes possess an idea, a concept of a supremely perfect being, much like his idea of a triangle, with immutable mathematical characteristics. And, a supremely perfect being must necessarily exist in order to be perfect, much like how a triangle must have certain qualities to be a triangle. Therefore, a supremely perfect being must exist. Descartes’ ontological proof is remarkably simple yet wholly revolutionary. Descartes profoundly couples the ontological with the phenomenological, taking an innate concept and clearly and distinctly perceiving said concept’s essential and immutable components to assert its existence. Subtly, however, Descartes’ ontological proof and his clear and distinct perception of God’s immutable elements allow for him to then assert God’s essence. Descartes asserts the inextricability of God’s existence and essence, thereby infusing “that it is” with the “what it is”