Part of
Descartes' attempt to prove the
existence of God, without assuming the existence of God. He starts,
je pense, donc je suis. (he was French.)
- I am thinking this. I can think.
- Well, then, I must exist.
- If I exist, I must have come from somewhere.
- I must have a creator, e.g. God.
Of course, this is not a
proof. He wasn't satisfied with it and apparently wasn't very happy that he couldn't absolutely prove God's existence. He did better in
math. I am not a
philosopher, this is just what i remember.
General Wesc has given me a more authentic-sounding series of steps, one which would convince me less, even. So - "I think, therefore God is, in three easy steps", by our friend Rene:
- People have an idea of a perfect being.
- Every effect must have an equal or greater cause.
- The only cause that could be equal/greater than that idea is God.
Ah, Rene. So the
butterfly influencing the weather patterns is no good for you, eh? And the
idea of a perfect being held in the mind of a human is the next greatest thing to a perfect being itself? Personally, i think a good ripe peach is equal to or greater than
musings on a perfect being most days. But then, i am not desperate to prove i have a creator other than my mother.
Thanks, Wesc!