system
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human
Very newb question about Descartes

I'm taking a beginning philosophy class. We just read the First Meditation. Just before Descartes brings up the evil demon, he brings up the possibility of a deceptive God, only to dismiss it on the grounds that God is good.  But this seems like a crap argument, as it assumes something about God (and in this Meditation, Descartes is trying to get rid of all assumptions). Questions:

 * Is it a crap argument?
 * If so, is there any evidence that Descartes knew it was a crap argument, and is sort of signalling his doubt about God (His existence or nature), which Descartes felt he could not state explicitly, because of the risk of running afoul of the Church?

Thanks!
gpt
He doesn't do that, at least not in the first meditation...he dismisses the position that God would be no deceiver and says he will Assume there is an evil deceptive demon, and the meditation ends there.