Here I think that Descartes is using the word "finite" in two different ways. The word finite means to have limits or boundaries or to not be infinitely small. "... for it is of the essence of a finite intellect not to understand many things." I think that Descartes is using the first meaning of finite here. He is saying that it is the nature of a limited knowledge to not understand many things. This is to say that those who have a small or sparse amount of knowledge are not going to understand as much as those with more. "... and it is the essence of a created intellect to be finite." I think that Descartes is using the second definition of "finite" in this section of the statement. He is saying that it is of the nature of a created knowledge to not be infinitely small. In my mind this makes some sort of sense, but it seems kind of obvious in a way. It seems obvious that someone with a limited knowledge would not understand many things, but I can't figure out if he meant something else by this that I'm not catching onto. Is there anything that anyone else gets from this?
Friday, March 7, 2008
Descartes Meditations Part 4
In paragraph 12 of Meditation 4 Descartes says, " Indeed I have no cause for complaint on the grounds that God has not given me a greater power of understanding or a greater light of nature than he has, for it is of the essence of a finite intellect not to understand many things, and it is of the essence of a created intellect to be finite."
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