Meditation 3

Descartes' argument for the existence of God:

1. I have an idea of God.
2. My idea of God has top-shelf objective reality.
3. There must be at least as much formal reality in the cause as there is objective reality in the effect (idea).
4. So the idea of God must have been caused by top-shelf formal reality.
5. So God exists.

Background Information:

Hierarchy of Formal Reality
1. Infinite Substance (God)
2. Finite Substance (rocks, chairs, people, etc.)
3. Mode (attribute/property - color, weight, shape, etc.)

Hierarchy of Objective Reality
1. Idea of Infinite Substance
2. Idea of Finite Substance
3. Idea of Mode

Note: Premise 3 of the argument (the most controversial bit) is a causal principle connecting the two hierarchies.