Now, Descartes's first proof for God's existence does have some initia

Question

New Project RC Butler 2019  -  Practice 2 RC Passages Everyday   
Passage # 378, Date : 08-Oct-2019
 This post is a part of New Project RC Butler 2019 .  Click here for Details

Now, Descartes's first proof for God's existence does have some initial plausibility. For example, if I discovered my ten-year-old daughter had drawn an apparently accurate diagram of a very sophisticated computer system, I would quickly infer that some mind other than the child's (and one much more informed about computers) had been at work and was, in fact, the source of the idea.

The analogy here seems clear and distinct enough, since obviously the child's mind could not have produced the diagram unaided. So to that extent Descartes's argument that the idea of God's perfection in an imperfect creature must come from a divine source seems fair enough. But, of course, there's a problem here, because Descartes's idea of God may not be all that similar to a complex computer design.

Consider the same case of my child's drawing, but this time I find a picture of a black square box and a label "Very big computer" underneath it. In that scenario, I would be far less likely to have a clear and distinct perception that some mind greater than the child's produced the image. Descartes might deny that his conception of God is indeed like this simple diagram; however, this second scenario is a better analogy to Descartes's notion of God than the first, and, for all the initial plausibility, Descartes's first argument for the existence of God does not appear all that sound.   1 
 D 
 1. The author of the passage is presenting which of the following?

(A) a recitation of methods for approaching philosophical proofs.
(B) an exposition of various arguments proposed by Descartes.
(C) an analogy between a child's mind and a complex diagram.
(D) an analysis of a specific argument for god's existence.
(E) an argument for a specific philosophical viewpoint.

2 
 A 
 2. According to the passage, Descarte's first proof for God's existence refers to human beings as which of the following?

(A) imperfect creatures.
(B) fundamentally immoral.
(C) created in the image of God.
(D) childlike and simple.
(E) biological computers.

3 
 C 
 3. Which of the following best summarizes the premise of the argument in the third paragraph?

(A) a child can render complex ideas through simple drawings.
(B) Descarte's first argument is essentially childlike.
(C) a complex idea can be expressed without comprehending the details of the idea.
(D) a computer can be compared to a primitive conception of god.
(E) an imperfect creature can never fully comprehend a perfect idea.

Skywalker18 · Accepted Answer

All correct in 4 mins 30 seconds, including 2 mins 15 seconds to read.
Para 1- Descartes's first proof for God's existence- some initial plausibility- example of a child producing apparently accurate diagram of a very sophisticated computer system
Para 2- God must have aided the child; Issue- Descartes's idea of God may not be all that similar to a complex computer design.
Para 3- second scenario is a better analogy to Descartes's notion of God than the first

1. The author of the passage is presenting which of the following?

(A) a recitation of methods for approaching philosophical proofs.- incorrect, the author talks only about Descartes proof of God
(B) an exposition of various arguments proposed by Descartes.- incorrect
(C) an analogy between a child's mind and a complex diagram.- incorrect
(D) an analysis of a specific argument for god's existence.- Correct, author analysis Descartes proof of God
(E) an argument for a specific philosophical viewpoint.- incorrect, this seemed the second best option; the author is not presenting any argument but analysing Descartes proof of God

2. According to the passage, Descarte's first proof for God's existence refers to human beings as which of the following?

(A) imperfect creatures.

The analogy here seems clear and distinct enough, since obviously the child's mind could not have produced the diagram unaided. So to that extent Descartes's argument that the idea of God's perfection in an imperfect creature must come from a divine source seems fair enough.

3. Which of the following best summarizes the premise of the argument in the third paragraph?
(C) a complex idea can be expressed without comprehending the details of the idea.- Correct, the second scenario is a better analogy to Descartes's notion of God than the first. The details of the complex idea is expressed as a simple diagram

Descartes might deny that his conception of God is indeed like this simple diagram; however, this second scenario is a better analogy to Descartes's notion of God than the first, and, for all the initial plausibility, Descartes's first argument for the existence of God does not appear all that sound.

ShankSouljaBoi · Answer

Please provide official explanation for q3

Hoozan · Answer

Skywalker18   SajjadAhmad

Q.3 Which of the following best summarizes the premise of the argument in the third paragraph?

Why is option (A) incorrect? Isn't the last paragraph talking about a complex idea "the computer/God" can be drawn in a simple drawings black box labelled "Very big computer" underneath

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Hello Hoozan

By reading just  paragraph 3  one cannot answer the question logically, to answer the question one need to read the complete text in the passage. In the  first paragraph  author provide what he/she is going to discuss author also provide an example of child's drawing.

In the  second paragraph  he/she explained how that example be analogous to the Descartes's first proof for God's existence. In the  third paragraph  author explained that we can depict what we see, we didn't go deep in things we don't understand. So we try to explain that thing with the best of our knowledge.

To pick up the right answer we need to understand the crux of all three paragraphs. Answer  choices C and E  were only to consider.  E  being too extreme is wrong and  C  is the answer. Question wasn't difficult but answer choices made it difficult. If you picked up  A  as answer it means you didn't converted your knowledge into the logic of the passage and you only concentrating on worldly meanings.

Hoozan · Answer

SajjadAhmad  Also what I believe is that the 3rd para and the passage as a whole are talking about "a complex idea" ---> "Descartes's proof/vie of God's existence"

The rest of the passage talks about two analogies

#1 giving some credit to the view
#2 reducing the belief by stating "Descartes's first argument for the existence of God does not appear all that sound."

Now when we look at Q3. and see option (A)  a child can render complex ideas through simple drawings.

The term "child" and "simple drawing" are terms used to simply draw an analogy. It isn't the summary nor the main idea conveyed.

While option (C)  a complex idea can be expressed without comprehending the details of the idea.

It clearly highlights why and what direction the author takes (by using #2 analogy). The Author uses the #2 analogy to state that Descartes may have a very simple idea of God

TarPhi · Answer

3. Which of the following best summarizes the premise of the argument in the third paragraph?

(C) a complex idea can be expressed without comprehending the details of the idea.

IMO, the entire passage talks about how Descartes's came up with his first argument for the existence of God. We are looking for a premise, the conclusion of which would be - Descartes's first argument for the existence of God does not appear all that sound.

Based on this, the only logical answer is C because it highlights how he came up with a "complex idea" of God without any real proof or evidence. He just bases it off the fact that we could not have thought about a perfect God unless we had some divine intervention.

SajjadAhmad  - let me know if you think this makes sense. If not, please correct me.

AnuK2222 · Answer

Took lot of time to understand Q3 but this is my understanding for why C is correct
3. Which of the following best summarizes the premise of the argument in the third paragraph?
Ideally premise should come from a sentence in para 3...
see this sentence "Descartes might deny that his conception of God is indeed like this simple diagram; however, this second scenario is a better analogy to Descartes's notion of God than the first,"... author is saying his second version is that conception of God is like simple diagram where in the child can represent the complex idea ie computer without having an understanding of computer structure or working.
I picked E at first but on rereading I feel that para2's premise might be option E and not para 3's

Now, Descartes's first proof for God's existence does have some initia

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Now, Descartes's first proof for God's existence does have some initia

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