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The Ruminations of Descartes and the Existence of the Evil Demon

Abstract
This paper addresses the following question: Does Descartes argument prove the existence of
the Evil Demon? I will argue that Descartes argument does prove the existence of the Evil
Demon.
In Descartes philosophical Meditations, he begins to doubt all of his existing knowledge
in the hopes that he will find a few core beliefs that are absolutely doubtless. With these
unshakable core beliefs, Descartes hopes to reinforce his beliefs that he previously thought to be
false. One of these beliefs involve the existence of God, which is addressed in his Third
Meditation. Descartes (2007) believes that God exists because God is an entity with infinite
intrinsic and representative reality. I will address intrinsic and representative reality further into
this paper. Using his reasoning, one could determine whether or not Descartes would believe his
other beliefs and ideas to be true. One such idea is the Evil Demon. Descartes states that an Evil
Demon could possibly exist to feed him false information about the world and himself. With his
knowledge derived from his strengthened belief in God, I will argue that Descartes argument can
prove the existence of the Evil Demon.
To gain an understanding of my argument, I will first address the ideas of intrinsic and
representative reality. In his Third Meditation, Descartes (2007) states that everything falls on
two different scales of intrinsic reality and representative reality. The intrinsic reality scale places
substances and modes on it based on its perfection. To clarify, a mode is an intangible quality
which in and of itself cannot be classified as a substance. A substance is a tangible object which
has a mode or multiple modes. For example, the colour red would be considered a mode. A dog
would be considered a substance. Descartes (2007) states that, Undoubtedly, the ideas that
represent substances amount to something morethey contain within themselves more
representative realitythan do the ideas that merely represent modes (p.11). On the intrinsic

reality scale, a mode always sits lower than a finite substance on the scale. A finite substance
always occupies a position lower than an infinite substance on the scale. The representative
reality scale places representations of modes and substances on the intrinsic reality scale.
Representative reality can be thought of as an idea of an existing object. An ideas representative
reality is equivalent to the amount of intrinsic reality of the object it represents.
In his Meditations, Descartes (2007) states that that something cant arise from nothing,
and that what is more perfectthat is, contains in itself more realitycant arise from what is
less perfect (p.12). What Descartes means is that an object or idea of an object can only be
derived from another object that contains equivalent or greater intrinsic and representative
reality. Using the notions of intrinsic and representative reality, Descartes attempts to prove
Gods existence.
One of the premises Descartes (2007) uses to base his argument on is that God is that it is
infinite. It contains an infinite amount of everything that exists. This leads to the premise that
God has infinite intrinsic reality and representative reality (p.14).
Descartes mentions the following: On the contrary, it is utterly vivid and clear, and
contains in itself more representative reality than any other idea; that is, it stands for
something that is grander, more powerful, more real, than any other idea stands for; so it
is more trueless open to the suspicion of falsehoodthan any other idea. (2007, p.14)
Using the premise that everything must be derived from something of equal or greater intrinsic
or representative reality, Descartes uses himself as an example. He states that he cannot be the
cause of himself, as he can only be derived from an object with greater or equivalent intrinsic
and representative reality. Since Descartes himself is imperfect as he has flaws such as doubt, he
does not have the equivalent intrinsic and representative reality of God. The same is said about
his parents as they cannot be the cause of themselves. Therefore, Descartes justifies Gods
existence by saying that only God could be the cause of himself and everything in existence.

Throughout his earlier Meditations, Descartes makes multiple allusions to the Evil
Demon. He uses the Evil Demon as a way to doubt many of his beliefs. The idea is that an Evil
Demon could be causing Descartes to have false beliefs about the world and himself. What he
thinks is a tree could in reality be something entirely different due to the Evil Demons illusions.
However, in his Third Meditation, Descartes does not mention the Evil Demon at all.
Therefore, I now have the responsibility to argue that Descartes can prove the Evil Demons
existence by using his argument for the existence of God.
The main difference between the idea of the Evil Demon and the idea of God is that the
Evil Demon is almost the polar opposite of God. Whereas the idea of God is all knowing,
infinite, and perfect, the idea of the Evil Demon is the most imperfect creature in existence. The
Demon is malicious, deceitful, and as his title mentions, evil. What makes the idea of the Evil
Demon similar to the idea of God is that they both contain intrinsic and representative reality.
If Descartes idea of God is to be believed, that means it is perfect since it contains both
infinite intrinsic and representational reality. This means God contains everything necessary to
create any substance or mode.
This premise can be supported as Descartes states the following: Again, the idea that
gives me my understanding of a supreme Godeternal, infinite, unchangeable,
omniscient, omnipotent and the creator of everything that exists except for himself
certainly has in it more representative reality than the ideas that represent merely finite
substances. (2007, p. 11).
This would mean anyone or thing beneath God on the scale of intrinsic and representational
reality would be flawed through omission. This would mean God contains everything including
modes such as deceit and hatred. This does not mean that Descartes cannot use his argument to
prove the existence of the Evil Demon. The Evil Demon can exist because it too is subject to
being flawed through omission. The Evil Demon does not have modes such as compassion and
love, which makes it imperfect.

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