Rene Descartes 1596-1650 Rene Descartes 1596-1650

Third Meditation: What does “clear anddistinct” idea & “natural light” mean?“clear” is what I experience or that I what I immediately experience (e.g.,theoretical “circle” in contrast to a square circle.“distinct” is that which I’m able to differentiate something from somethingelse.Natural light” is that which we intuitively grasp (e.g., our own existence)or we see the connections between some and other intuitions (it is notinference: “you can’t say, then this”); natural light: It is that whichmeans….; you can’t use imply or inferential reason because it is notunder demon objection;Natural light provides natural insight into “what you mean”; not logical.79