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    Carmelics

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Original/inverse
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    Inverse View

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

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 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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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 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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