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Meditations
on First Philosophy by René Descartes
Translated by Ian Johnston
Rene Descartes'
Meditations on First Philosophy,
first published in 1641, is one of the most famous and influential
thought experiments in the history of ideas. In six meditations the
author sets out a long and subtle argument describing his quest for
certainty. Casting aside all knowledge that he can in any way doubt, he
explores what he can know with absolute certainty. This exercise brings
him to the famous conclusion: I am thinking; therefore, I am. Having
established this basic truth, Descartes then proceeds to build an
argument to demonstrate other certainties. These include the existence
of God and of external material objects.
The argument in the Mediations has
frequently been criticized, even when it first appeared, but it remains
a fascinating and influential work and an important introduction to
modern philosophy. Not the least of its contributions to modern thought
is the famous Cartesian dualism: the radical split between a natural
world (including the human body) governed by mechanical laws and the
human mind. This dualism is still a major problem (perhaps the major
problem) in modern biology.
Classics/ Philosophy ISBN:
978-1-935238-50-8
USD $8.95
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