a) Our ideas of sense must have a cause

b) Ideas of sense, unlike those of imagination, do not depend on our own will, so they must have some other cause.

c) Ideas of sense are not caused by material objects, since matter does not exist.

d) Ideas of sense cannot be caused by other ideas; since ideas are inactive and have no power or agency, they cannot be the cause of anything.

e) Therefore, our ideas of sense must be caused by some other mind, since this is the only other possible explanation.

This mind must be God. Why? Consider our ideas of sense. First, they are always internally consistent, so they are the product of only one mind. Second, they are incredibly complex and varied, so this source mind must be of unimaginable power. Third, despite their infinite variety and complexity, these ideas are ordered to such a minute detail so as to make the most detailed scientific investigations show consistency. So, this mind must be benevolent. This cause, then, must be unique, unimaginably powerful and benevolent. Sounds like God!

Adapted from: Garrett Thomson, Descartes to Kant: An Introduction to Modern Philosophy. Waveland Press, 1997, pages 166-167.

1) All ideas must be perceived.

2) Sensible objects are collections of ideas.

3) Objects continue to exist even when they are not perceived by any finite minds. 4) Therefore, there is a nonfinite spirit or mind which perceives objects.

Notice that #2 depends on the truth of Berkeley’s idealism. Premise three assumes that objects continue to exist even when they are not perceived by finite minds. A safe assumption??

Adapted from: Garrett Thomson, Descartes to Kant: An Introduction to Modern Philosophy. Waveland Press, 1997, page 168.