Single Idea 2275

[catalogued under 28. God / A. Divine Nature / 3. Divine Perfections]

Full Idea

It is quite obvious that a perfect God cannot be a deceiver, for it is manifest by the light of nature that all fraud and deception depend on some defect.

Gist of Idea

It is self-evident that deception is a natural defect, so God could not be a deceiver

Source

René Descartes (Meditations [1641], §3.52)

Book Reference

Descartes,René: 'Discourse on Method/The Meditations', ed/tr. Sutcliffe,F.E. [Penguin 1968], p.131