Descartes argued that God, being perfectly good, would not allow people to be led into error by vivid and clear perception. Which of the following is not a premise in that argument?
A) Malice and weakness are not to be found in God.
B) I have a faculty of judgment that was given to me by God.
C) Since God doesn't want to deceive me, I am sure that he didn't give me a faculty of judgment that would lead me into error while I was using it correctly.
D) Deceiving someone is often necessary for his or her own good.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Choice D is not a premise in Descartes' argument. He actually argues that God would not deceive people, so it would be contradictory for him to say that deceiving someone is often necessary for their own good. Choices A, B, and C are all premises in his argument.

Descartes Argued That God, Being Perfectly Good, Would Not Allow