Six metaphysical meditations · René Descartes
ANSWER.
Here the Philosopher will have the Word _Idea_ be only Understood for the _Images_ of _Material_ Things represented in a _Corporeal_ Phantasie, by which Position he may Easily Prove, that there can be no Proper _Idea_ of an _Angel_ or _God_. Whereas as I declare every Where, but especially in this Place, that I take the Name _Idea_ for whatever is immediately _perceived_ by the _Mind_, so that when I _Will_, or _Fear_, because at the same time I _perceive_ that I _Will_ or _Fear_, this very _Will_ or _Fear_ are reckon’d by me among the number of _Ideas_; And I have purposely made use of that Word, because It was usual with the Antient Philosophers to signifie the Manner of _Perceptions_ in the _Divine Mind_, altho neither we nor they acknowledge a Phantasie in _God_: and besides I had no fitter Word to express it by. And I think I have sufficiently explain’d the _Idea_ of _God_ for those that will attend my meaning, but I can never do it fully enough for those that will Understand my Words otherwise then I intend them. Lastly, what is here added concerning the _Creation_ of the World is wholly beside the Question in hand.
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