Some of it is due to man's propensity to flaw, and to his limited ability (which is related to his limited mental and physical power).
In addition to misinterpreting the nature of the relationship between intellect and free will, Descartes has incorrectly interpreted some of the most vital connotations that accompany free will. There is an innate responsibility that accompanies this gift. Free will presents human beings (and anything else endowed with it, for that matter), the opportunity to do good or evil, to make use of or to squander opportunity, to laugh or to cry. The power of the decision, regardless of the source (which is, of course, God) ultimately resides with the individual. And while the author readily acknowledges the relationship of intellect and will in whether or not man can judge correctly or incorrectly, he does not acknowledge the fact that there is a responsibility associate with such acts that does not reside with God, but of the person making the decision. Due to this fact, one of the author's central premises in this meditation -- that a perfect being has created man so man should be perfect in all his actions and judgments -- is flawed. God's gift to man of free will allows the latter to demonstrate his own actions and decisions, which enables man to operate as the authority for such actions. Therefore, man must demonstrate his own savvy, his own good judgment and the research required to do so, in order to properly discern "truth from error." The very creation of free will indicates that God has delivered man the tools to either succeed or fail, and reinforces the fact that doing so ultimately resides with man himself. That is the true nature of free will, yet this fact is never acknowledged by the author in this work.
Descartes is not expressly wrong in his attribution to the source of error that is frequently found in man. His theory has some veracity regarding the source of this error. However, the author's...
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now