Abstract

In his metaphysical writings, Descartes propounds two doctrines which appear to be in direct conflict with each other. First, he asserts that God, free of all restriction, is the creator of the eternal truths. Second, he attempts to answer the most skeptical doubts concerning the possibility of human knowledge. To most commentators, these views seem to be in direct opposition. The dissertation shows that a reconciliation of these doctrines is possible within the context of Descartes' thought. ;I first explain that Descartes's insistence that God's creative activity is not bound by the law of non-contradiction seems to preclude the possibility of establishing that the deliverances of human reason, which are bound by this law, correspond to the reality that God has created. This shows that Descartes' Creation Doctrine does seem to conflict with his attempt to provide a Validation of Reason. ;I then propose that a reconciliation of these doctrines becomes possible if we take "clear and distinct perception" to signify a human mental activity in which we participate, to a limited extent, in God's activity of creative thought. I show that while Descartes does not explicitly endorse this reading of his criterion of knowledge, it is fully consistent with his views on the relevant matters. It fits with his descriptions of human and divine will and understanding, and with central elements of the Meditations and Principles. Given this, I conclude that the reconciliation I have proposed is possible within the limits of Descartes' system. ;Finally, I establish that there is strong evidence for taking this resolution to be the one that Descartes himself intended, by showing that the texts of Meditations III, IV and V, when viewed from this perspective, take on a consistency not otherwise available. My analysis provides a clear resolution of the Cartesian Circle, and provides new insight into Descartes' mind-body dualism. ;I conclude by suggesting that this reading of Descartes' thought can have value for contemporary efforts in epistemology and philosophy of mind. Moreover, it provides a perspective toward the thought of Descartes' contemporaries which might well shed new light on their work