EMP-essay on Descartes' theory of judgement

Intro

aims to show that humans rather than God are responsible for error in judgement but fails.

Paragraph 1- Summary

having ‘proven’ God exists and is non-deceiving in Third Meditation, now wants to broaden knowledge. Says in synopsis that fourth proves truth rule. non-deceiving so would not design us to inevitably produce false beliefs, but why do our faculties, but God’s design, not inevitably lead us to truth?

Paragraph 2-first potential explanation

humans are imperfect, a defect, human faculty of true judgement not infinite like God’s, but privation not negation, mistaken vs ignorant eg. deprived of freedom from liability to err.

Paragraph 3- nature of judgement

errors depend of 2 faculties- faculty of knowledge, the intellect which allows us to perceive ideas for judgement, limited. faculty of choice or freedom of the will too, unlimited. limited intellect as many ideas unaware of, negative lacking but not deprived, no reason God ought to have given us greater knowledge. If always saw clearly and distinctly no deliberation, no error. results from misuse of free will. separately the faculties contain no error, only human interaction due to differing scope. free to withhold.

Paragraph 3- unlimited will

Williams says unlimited will problematic, unable to choose action i know is impossible, choosing vs performing distinct but nothing to indicate chosen. Also eg indifference. Also Descartes seems unable to apply words can and cannot to the will as willing automatically means action happens, asking can he will is equivalent to asking can his willing to will it have an effect.

Paragraph 4-is assent voluntary

do not will i assent as its a mode of willing, can and cannot do not apply again. also if truly voluntary could convince ourselves of false beliefs. when faced with overwhelming evidence do not seem to decide p. Descartes tries to avoid by restricting notion of assent- will not used against overwhelming evidence and most important use of will is to withhold assent. Only time we dont have free will in assent, so God is responsible, is when clear and distinct so these are true and not decieved-hatfield.

Paragraph 5- 2 understanding of free will

indifference-choose one way or the other vs spontaneity-acting in accordance to own will, can be determined by our nature. naturally determined to assent to clear distinct perceptions but still free. is this type of freedom enough and could an all powerful god not have achieved both removal of error and stronger freedom

Paragraph 6- assent to ideas?

Descartes says we assent to ideas, Williams says propositions eg triangle, clear and distinct implies proposition is true so what role is there for assent, we already understand it to be true through our undertsanding,