Descartes on Theological Knowledge

Abstract

ARNAULD CHARGED DESCARTES WITH CIRCULARITY IN HISTHEOLOGICAL PROOF. I ARGUE THAT DESCARTES'S SYSTEM ISCIRCULAR. THEN I DISCUSS HOW DESCARTES RESPONDS TO THISPROBLEM. HE DEVELOPS DISTINCTIONS WHICH ONLY SEEM TO ALLAYTHE CIRCULARITY CHARGE. IRONICALLY, IT IS DESCARTESHIMSELF, BY MEANS OF HIS INSISTENCE ON THE IDEA-THINGDISTINCTION AND ATTENDANT DOUBTS, AND HIS INSISTENCE ON'DOUBTING THE INDUBITABLE', WHO HIGHLIGHTS THE CHRONICDIFFICULTIES OF THE THEOLOGICAL PROOFS.