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 God’s 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.