Descartes' Trademark Argument

Descartes' Trademark Argument

P1. The cause of anything must be at least as perfect as its effect. 

P2. My ideas must be caused by something. 

P3. I am an imperfect being. 

P4. I have the idea of God, which is that of a perfect being 

C1. I cannot be the cause of my idea of God 

C2. Only a perfect being can be the cause of my idea of God (a perfect being). 

C3. God must exist. 

Why does Plato need God?

Plato needs God to prove his clear and distinct argument because he needs God to justify why clear and distinct ideas are automatically true.  

Premise 1

The cause of anything must be at least as perfect as its effect.

Premise 2

My ideas must be caused by something.

Premise 3

I am an imperfect being.

Premise 4

I have the idea of God, which is that of a perfect being.

Conclusion 1

I cannot be the cause of my idea of God. 

Conclusion 2

Only a perfect being can be the cause of my idea of God (a perfect being).

Conclusion 3

God must exist.

Deduction

Working out the truth of a claim by use of another. For example, from Jake’s kitchen is blue, I know Jake has a kitchen.