Trademark Argument Formalized

 

Trademark Argument (Descartes)

1. I have an idea of God.

2. Anything that begins to exist has a cause.

   1. I began to exist.

   2. Hence my idea of God began to exist.

3. Therefore, there is a cause of my idea of God.

3. There is a cause of my idea of God.

4. The cause of an effect must contain at least as much reality as the effect.

5. Therefore, the cause of my idea of God must contain at least as much reality as my idea of God.

5. The cause of my idea of God must contain at least as much reality as my idea of God.

6. The idea of God contains perfection.

7. Therefore, the cause of my idea of God must contain perfection.

7. The cause of my idea of God must contain perfection.

8. Only God contains perfection.

9. Therefore, God is the cause of my idea.

9. God is the cause of my idea.

10. Something must exist in order to have causal powers.

11. Therefore, God exists.