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    Descartes explicitly grounds modal claims in divine omnip... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→Possibilities which exist only in thought are not possibilities at all on Descartes' view.

    Descartes explicitly grounds modal claims in divine omnipotence, not just clear and distinct perception (Replies to Objections VI).

    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
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    • 1.Descartes explicitly invokes God's omnipotence to explain modal distinctions (possible vs. impossible) in Replies VI.
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    • 2.Clear and distinct perception alone cannot ground modality without circularity—only divine power can serve as ultimate foundation.
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    • 3.Descartes needs omnipotence to explain why some things are genuinely impossible, not merely unclear to finite minds.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Descartes consistently treats clear and distinct perception as the primary criterion for truth and necessity throughout his work.
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    • 2.The appeal to omnipotence in Replies VI may address logical possibility, not metaphysical grounding of modal knowledge itself.
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    • 3.Descartes' actual practice relies on rational intuition of essences, not explicit invocation of divine power for modal judgments.
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    Connections

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    Truth & Knowledge1 linkedModality & Possibility1 linked

    Related

    Clear and distinct perception alone cannot ground modality without circularity—o...Descartes consistently treats clear and distinct perception as the primary crite...Descartes explicitly invokes God's omnipotence to explain modal distinctions (po...Descartes needs omnipotence to explain why some things are genuinely impossible,...
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    Descartes' actual practice relies on rational intuition of essences, not explici...Possibilities which exist only in thought are not possibilities at all on Descar...The appeal to omnipotence in Replies VI may address logical possibility, not met...

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    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
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