History Of Modern Philosophy
ANSWER
- Descartes on Human Error: You correctly describe Descartes’ view that human error cannot be attributed to God because God is perfect and devoid of deception. Descartes differentiates between intellect and free will, asserting that intellect, while limited in the scope of ideas it can grasp, is without error. It’s through the exercise of free will that humans often fall into error by making choices in matters they don’t fully understand.
- The Role of Intellect: You emphasize Descartes’ method of employing intellect to attain clear and distinct understanding before exercising free will to make choices or form beliefs. If the intellect cannot achieve this understanding, then one should withhold judgment to avoid error.
- Limitations of Intellect: You acknowledge that intellect has limitations, and while we can comprehend some things, there are limits to what we can understand due to these limitations.
- Role of Will and Knowledge: You suggest that by acting based on the principles of knowledge, the limitless free will of the individual can be constrained to prevent the assertion of false beliefs or judgments.
- Human Nature and Truth-Falsity: You make an interesting connection to the concept of human nature, suggesting that if we characterize human imperfections as “perfectly defined,” truth and falsehood within a person’s nature could become fluid and subjective, as seen in the quote from “Scarface.”
In summary, your analysis captures Descartes’ perspective on human error, the role of intellect and free will, and how knowledge and principles can help avoid false beliefs. Your reference to “Scarface” adds a contemporary touch to illustrate the concept of truth and falsehood in human nature, implying that these distinctions can be blurred in certain circumstances. This interpretation provides a broader context for Descartes’ philosophical ideas.
QUESTION
Description
Please respond to kamari:
Descartes finds that human error cannot be attributed to God because God’s perfection is absent of deception. According to Descartes, Intellect itself is without error even though it has a limitation of ideas. In Contrast, Free Will is limitless. It is through the faculty of exercising free will that he himself fell into error. Moreover, through exercising our will in matters that we do not fully understand, mistakes are made and false beliefs are held to be true. From my understanding, Descartes employs “Intelect” on the problem to gather a clear and distinct understanding of it (which is limited/Intellect) first and then our will is able to reach the right choice or solution about the problem or form truth in our beliefs. If through the limitation of the Intellect clear and distinct understanding cannot be grasped, our will should reserve judgment thereby preventing it from falling into error.
From Intellect or intelligence we gather our understanding from thoughts formed in our analysis of a thing. The thought being the cause of it all. Although, we are able to comprehend some things we are not able to comprehend all things due to its limitations. By acting on the principles of knowledge the Will’s limitless free will can be checked from asserting false beliefs, assumptions or judgment. However, if I employ the idea or assumption that man’s very nature is truth and falsehood strangely mixed the essence of his argument goes against the nature of man.
We might remember in the movie “Scarface” when Tony’s character says, “I always tell the truth even when I lie.” <span;>If characterizing man’s imperfections as perfectly defined (human nature of truth and falsehood strangly mixed) within himself. Then a lie can be truth and truth can be a lie according to his nature or infirmities.