The Problem of Infinity in Meditation III

Document Type

Humanities

Authors

Peter B. Creech, Pepperdine University, Seaver CollegeFollow

Abstract

In Meditation III, Rene Descartes’ main argument for the existence of God hinges on our perception of infinity. All ideas or beings must have as much formal reality, according to Descartes, as those that they in turn create or produce. Because we as human beings can perceive of infinity, yet we do not observe anything that is actually infinite, this perception must come from a God who has at least as much formal reality as we. In this paper I argue that the human mind is incapable of perceiving anything that is actually infinite. We hold a concept of infinity, but it is clear that we do not fully comprehend it. Thus, the kind of infinity Descartes needs for his argument to work is not the kind of infinity we can claim to understand. This is a devastating objection to Descartes argument for God’s existence, because it shows that Descartes has made an invalid inference in the most critical premise of his argument.

Recommended Citation

Creech, Peter B. (2015) "The Problem of Infinity in Meditation III," Global Tides: Vol. 9, Article 1.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/globaltides/vol9/iss1/1