Clear and Distinct is Unclear

But whatever type of argument I use, it always comes down to the fact that the only things that fully convince me are those that I clearly and distinctly perceive. And although some of these things I thus perceive are obvious to everyone, while others are discovered only by those who look more closely and inquire carefully, nevertheless, once they have been discovered, they are considered no less certain than the others (Meditiations, A&T 68-69).

I think it is agreed that Descartes intends his conclusions, of his existence and God, to be objective. This quote provides further evidence. First, it implicitly claims that Descartes' conclusions are certain. Second, it explicitly claims that people are not looking close enough or inquiring carefully if they disagree with the conclusions. The verb "discovered" indicates that Descartes believes his conclusions' reality are independent of an individual's deliberance.

But there is much disagreement regarding Descartes' principle criterion for accepting something as reality - his "clear and distinct perception." Is it relativism or a true revelation of reality? I found it interesting, but perhaps no help to the present question, that Descartes likens this "clear and distinct perception" to a conformation to "the good and the true" (58). According to Descartes, clearly and distinctly perceiving something is not a subjective, internal belief: "A great light in my intellect gave way to a great inclination in my will" (59). It seems that Descartes is saying that his reason did not ultimately ascertain his existence and God, but an external force that drew his will.