Rene Descartes 1596-1650 Rene Descartes 1596-1650

Meditation 4 Outline: Explains thePossibility of Error:A. I know that God is not a deceiver and that God also created me along with all mycapacities. I also know that I am often in error.B. This error cannot be due to the correct operation of any faculty which God has createdin me, for this would make God a deceiver. I must inquire, therefore, into how it ispossible that I can err even though I am the product of a benevolent God.1. Error is due to the concurrent operation of the will and the intellect.a. No error is found in the intellect.b. Error consists in the will, in its judgments, going beyond what theintellect clearly and distinctly perceives to be the case.c. God cannot be blamed for giving us a free or unlimited will which it ispossible for us to abuse and thereby fall into error.C. Therefore, the way to avoid error is to refrain from judgment until our intellect sees thetruth clearly and distinctly.112