[who_would_fardels_bear]

Agreed. In order to counter the initial doubt Descartes made the point that a loving God would not create a world where his people were completely befuddled or deluded, and then followed up with three proofs for the existence of God.

Philosophers of the day found his doubts quite compelling, but not so much his proofs. The blowback from Cogito Ergo Sum seems to have been the unintended consequence of a well-intentioned Christian.

[ConservativeDude]

yes.

I have often found it very poignant that Descartes tried, apparently sincerely, pretty much on his own....and this is what he came up with.

Incidentally....but related....TS Eliot said the exact same thing about Tennyson’s In Memorium. He said the quality of the doubt is exquisite...but he didn’t buy Tennyson’s utterances which are in line with the orthodox Christian faith.

Why is it that collectively we find doubt more persuasive than proclamations of truth? Arrgh.....