Interpretation

From class today:


God’s existence—“a more perfect being”
“Defect”


….
D. uses the idea that G. represents perfection to prove that he himself (or anything else) is not perfect or has defects.

[TS] G. represents perfection. [In Meditation Three] While trying to prove the existence of God, Descartes asks himself, “For how would I understand that I doubt and that I desire, that is, that I lack something and that I am not wholly perfect unless there were some idea in me of a more perfect being by comparison with which I might recognize my defects” (76). Here D. argues that there must be a perfect being or he would not understand his doubt and desire. This comprehension is the result of a comparison between himself and a perfect. The phrase “I am not wholly perfect” leads to the suggestion “unless” that he has the idea in him of “a more perfect being”. This passage starts to develop his idea of the more perfect being. This is the first he introduces the idea, but he also talks about or elaborates on it. For Descartes, the idea of perfection is relevant only to God. Defects/imperfection.


– “I lack something” – “For how would I understand…?” – “by comparison” – “in me” – “doubt” “desire” “defects”

Why is it important? Relevance to thesis/TS? Interpret from that things about D.

What are the defects? Imperfections that D. (or anything has)