... how Descartes proves 1) that there is a God and 2) whether or not God can be a deceiver, in order to demonstrate that nothing, which is both clearly and distinctly perceived, could ever be false and that the best evidence Descartes can have for the truth of anything is that he clearly and distinctly perceives it. Descartes starts off by classifying all of his thoughts into three types: ideas, like images if things; volition, emotions, and affections (e.g., fear, desire); and judgments (to affirm or deny). First, there are ideas, which properly speaking, are like images of objects (e.g., man, chimera, sky, angel, God). Descartes says that ideas, as simple images in the mind, cannot be false. Besides conceiving of an object or having an idea, the mind can also add something to the object. On the one hand, it can add volitions or emotions (desire, fear) or it ...

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