Descartes to Kant: The Existence of God – A Very Brief History

The subsequent essay will cover a short history of the existence of God from René Descartes through Immanuel Kant. First, section (1), covers Descartes’ view on the existence of God. Following this, in (2), I consider G.W. Leibniz’s view and George Berkeley’s view is explored in (3). These first three philosophers undeniably believe God exists. The remainder of the essay covers three additional philosophers whose views on the existence of God are less certain. These philosophers include John Locke covered in section (4), David Hume in (5) and, lastly, Immanuel Kant in (6).

(1)

Holding strong Catholic beliefs, Descartes, without a doubt believed in the existence of God. Descartes makes this clear in the beginning of Meditations on First Philosophy. He writes that we must “believe in God’s existence because it is taught in the Holy Scriptures, and, conversely, that we must believe in the Holy Scriptures because they have come from God” (Descartes 1). Later, however, within the Third Meditation, Descartes considers the existence of God. In his search for absolute certainty, he initially writes, “I do not yet sufficiently know if there is even a God” (Descartes, 25). In other words, Descartes does not initially know if God exists with certainty. He then deliberates “whether there is a God” (25). Even though he questions God’s existence, Descartes still has an innate idea of God; a substance that is an “infinite, independent, supremely intelligent and supremely powerful” perfect being who created everything (30). As a result, he concludes that because of his innate idea of God, (which was not conjured by Descartes of drawn from the senses), it must therefore be God who “is the cause of this idea” (25). Moreover, because Descartes exists with an idea of God, he concludes that God must also exist. He explicitly states this in the following: “I have no choice but to conclude that the mere fact of my existing is and of there being in me an idea of a most perfect being, that is God, demonstrates most evidently that God too exists” (34). Descartes then continues, suggesting that it is “highly plausible” that he is somehow made in the image and likeness of his creator (35). After this, Descartes continues the meditations basing many other things on the existence of God. But, in the Fifth Meditation, Descartes claims to provide a proof demonstrating the existence of God.