Proof of God cont.

1
Proof of God cont.

• Therefore, there is a mind that is causing my
  perceptual ideas.
• But my perceptual ideas are much more vivid and
  coherent than any ideas I create.
• Therefore the cause of my perceptual ideas must
  be correspondingly greater than me
• It must be a very wise, powerful mind, that is,
  God.

2
An argument for Gods existence

• Some of my ideas are caused by me, some are not
  (the perceptual ideas)
• All ideas require a cause.
• It does not make any sense to suppose that mind
  independent material things cause my ideas (think
  of the critique of indirect realism)
• But minds CAN cause ideas. (we know this from our
  own case, when we think or imagine)

3

• Philonous To be plain, it is my opinion that
  the real things are those very things I see and
  feel, and perceive with my sensess A piece of
  sensible bread, for instance, would stay my
  stomach better than ten thousand times as much of
  that insensible, unintelligible, real bread you
  speak of ( p. 63)

4
But minds are the only causes

• Sensible bread, therefore, cannot really have any
  effect on hunger.
• The true cause of all our ideas, is never an
  idea, but always a mind (either God or some
  finite mind)

5
What about these minds?

• Hylas asks philonous can you frame an idea of a
  mind?
• Philonous says No.
• Hylas therefore, on your own principles you
  should deny that there are any minds, just as you
  deny that there is matter.
• You should think what we call mind is just a
  bundle of ideas.

6
Philonous response

• I am aware of my mind, but not in the same way as
  I am aware of ideas.
• When I think or will, I am aware of any activity.
  This activity is what gives me the notion (not
  idea) of a mind.