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Single Idea 2278

[filed under theme 29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 3. Problem of Evil / c. Human Error ]

Full Idea

I make mistakes because the faculty of judging the truth, which I got from God, is not, in my case, infinite.

Gist of Idea

Error arises because my faculty for judging truth is not infinite

Source

René Descartes (Meditations [1641], §4.54)

Book Ref

Descartes,René: 'Discourse on Method/The Meditations', ed/tr. Sutcliffe,F.E. [Penguin 1968], p.134


The 4 ideas with the same theme [possible explanations of why human error is possible]:

Human logos is an aspect of divine logos, and is sufficient for successful living [Epicharmus]
Since God does not wish to deceive me, my judgement won't make errors if I use it properly [Descartes]
Error arises because my faculty for judging truth is not infinite [Descartes]
God didn't give us good judgement even about our own lives [Gassendi on Descartes]