 A central feature of this interpretation is worth repeating. It is natural for critics to ask why the arguments of Arc 1 are accepted by the meditator if, indeed, Evil Genius Doubt remains in play. The answer lies in our earlier discussion of the indirect manner in which the doubt undermines clear and distinct perception  (Section 4.3).  While clearly and distinctly attending to a proposition, the mind cannot but assent: “my nature is such that so long as I perceive something very clearly and distinctly I cannot but believe it to be true.” Therefore, while the meditator attends to the steps of the Third Meditation arguments for God, he cannot but accept them. However, the meditator does not (yet) have perfect knowledge of those premises, nor of their conclusions. How, then do those matters finally rise to the status of perfect knowledge? We return to this issue, below. At present, the focus is on the issue of circularity.