Question

Explain Descartes view of god. How does this viewpoint compare to Marlowe viewpoint of god, as portrayed in doctor faustus?

Answer 1

Descartes writes that the concept of God is an idea of perfection and therefore he do exists. The second proof on God is a geometrical one. Geometrically, the angles of a triangle add up to 180 degrees, but there are many triangles out there. Like the existence of a triangle with this feature it is a proof for the existence of God.    

We can observe Marlowe's atheistic views in the blasphemous acts of protagonist Faustus's bargains with the devil, his practice of magic and the unforgiving salvation the character endures believing that he might be forgiven in the end are still disputed. He is not denying the superiority of God, but he question it, challenges it with his framework.  

Answer 2

In Marlow's Doctor Faustus view of morality, first, there is the idea of sin, which Christianity defines as acts contrary to the will of God. In making a pact with Lucifer, Faustus commits what is in a sense the ultimate sin, not only does he disobey God, but he consciously and even eagerly renounces obedience to him, choosing instead to swear allegiance to the devil. In a Christian framework, however, even the worst deed can be forgiven through the redemptive power of God.  In a "Discourse on Method", Descartes does not seek to teach people of sin and its consequences. Rather, the author simply addresses the manner in which one can know truth through science and one's ability to think for themselves apart from our five senses. He believes that God exists because he can reason that there must be a mind which knows perfection and he understands that that he, himself, is imperfect. Marlow's work is about the imperfections of Faustus and God's judgment on those faults, whereas Descartes simply sees the fact that God exits, due to his own imperfections.