The Proof of God's Existence from Ideas 1.) Everything existing is the effect of some cause. (Premise, known by clear and distinct intuition) 2.) There must be at least as much reality in a cause, as there is in its effect. ( Premise, known by clear and distinct intuition) 3.) Every cause has either formal or eminent reality. (Premise, known by clear and distinct intuition) 4.) Every (materially true) idea has objective reality. (Premise, known by clear and distinct intuition) 5.) There must be at least as much formal or eminent reality in the cause of an idea's objective reality, as there is objective reality in the idea. (Follows from steps 1-4) 6.) I have an idea of a perfect being. (Premise, know by clear and distinct intuition) 7.) That idea has infinitely objective reality. (Follows from step 6 and the definition of "perfection") 8.) The cause of that idea's objective reality must have infinite formal or eminent reality. (Follows from steps 5-7) 9.)I am a finite thing. (Premise, known by common sense) 10.) So I could not have caused the objective reality of the idea of a perfect being. (Follows from steps 8 and 9) 11.) So something other than myself is the cause of that idea's objective reality. (Follows from step 10) 12.) And that something-other-than-myself must have infinite formal or eminent reality. (Follows from steps 7 and 11) 13.) And that something-other-than-myself which has infinite formal or eminent reality is what we call "God." So God exists. (Follows from step 12 and the definition of "God") Thus it is demonstrated.