Ontological and Cosmological Proofs of the Existence of God

All the instructions are posted in the attatched document, and the deadline can be extended, but no late than 4:00 pm April 1 st(eastern standard time ). Thank you so much to whoever takes this order!

Choose one of the following topics:

1)      Analyze and critically evaluate one of the two proofs for the existence of God in Meditation 3 (not the one in Meditation 5), after briefly indicating what the two proofs are and how they differ from each other. In analyzing one of the proofs, you need to identify and explain each step and show how the conclusion logically follows from all the steps. In evaluating the proof, you need to ask yourself whether it is necessary to accept each step and if the conclusion does in fact logically follow from the steps. You should also situate the proof within the context of the Meditations as a whole by explaining why Descartes feels the need to prove God’s existence at this point in the text. What purpose is the proof supposed to serve and does it succeed?

2)      Analyze and critically evaluate Descartes’ proof for the existence of an external physical world. Analyzing requires clearly stating and explaining all of its steps as well as showing how they logically lead to the conclusion. Critically evaluating the argument requires you to question each premise (is it true? Is it vulnerable to objections? Can counter-examples be brought against it?) as well as the logic of the argument. You should also situate the proof within the context of the Meditations as a whole by explaining why Descartes needs to prove that a physical world exists. Why can’t this simply be taken as obvious? You will need to explain his reasons for engaging in a project of radical doubt in the first place.

Your conclusion for both topics should state why you either do or do not think, based on what you have shown in your paper, that Descartes has succeeded in arriving at the knowledge he sought 

General guidelines (read carefully!):

1)      You must provide page references to document and support everything you say (not only actual quotations, but any claims you attribute to Descartes), using the numbers on the margins of the text. Failure to do so will significantly lower your grade.

2)      Do not use secondary sources. The essay must represent your own reading of the text. You have Descartes’ own words and must base your analysis on his own words; an essay that merely reproduces what someone else says about Descartes, even if the source is acknowledged, will not receive a passing grade; and of course, if the source is not acknowledged, the penalty will be more severe.

3)      Go through several drafts of your essay, editing for clarity, accuracy, and organization: qualities that are absolutely essential in an essay of this type.

4)      Proofread the essay carefully before submitting the final version. Essays that are practically unreadable on account of awkward and ungrammatical sentences, typos, etc., will not receive a satisfactory grade.

5)      Let your own voice be heard, but in such a way that you argue for and support what you wish to say.  A sentence beginning “I wish to demonstrate that . . .” is perfectly acceptable, but a sentence beginning “I feel that . . .” is not.

6)      Remember that the issues Descartes is dealing with are important issues. Learning to care about them, think and reflect on them, before starting to write. That will make all the difference.