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'It is some years now since I realized how many false opinions I had accepted as true from childhood onwards...I saw that at some stage in my life the whole structure would have to be utterly demolished' In Descartes's Meditations, one of the key texts of Western philosophy, the thinker rejects all his former beliefs in the quest for new certainties. Discovering his own existence as a thinking entity in the very exercise of doubt, he goes on to prove the existence of God, who guarantees his clear and distinct ideas as a means of access to the truth. He develops new conceptions of body and mind, capable of serving as foundations for the new science of nature. Subsequent philosophy has grappled with Descartes's legacy, questioning many of its conclusions and even his basic approach, but his arguments set the agenda for many of the greatest philosophical thinkers, and their fascination endures. This new translation includes the Third and Fourth Objections and Replies in full, and a selection from the rest of these exchanges with Descartes's contemporaries that helped to expound his philosophy.
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I have such good reason for offering this work to you, and I trust that you will have such good reason for taking it under your protection, once you understand my intention in writing it, that I could recommend it here in no better way than by saying briefly what my aim was. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
I have such good reason for offering this work to you, and I trust that you will have such good reason for taking it under your protection, once you understand my intention in writing it, that I could recommend it here in no better way than by saying briefly what my aim was. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Gripped by the overwhelming forces of destructive scepticism, Descartes (in a bid to discover what it actually is that we can know) builds a foundationalist epistemology that revolutionised epistemological thought. Plato's epistemology, for example, was (right or wrongly) based on the assumption that knowledge and perception is possible and it's just the differentiation of these two realms of enquiry that is important. Descartes, however, rejects this by realising that what he thought he could know (via rationale and especially via perception) could just be the product of an Evil Daemon; feeding us thoughts, experiences and memories. What then could he know, if anything at all?
From this point, Descartes utilises his pristine rationale to formulate his Cogito argument. The Cogito (through revolutionary, yet, flawed logic) suggests that the 'I' we so liberally refer to must exist, in some form, and we can be absolutely certain of this. Hence the famous Latin phrase 'Cogito Ergo Sum', in French 'Je pense donc Je suis' and in English 'I think therefore I am'. From this underlying philosophical brick, he builds a grand house of statements and principles that we can know: including geometrical and mathematical truths.
Descartes' Meditations is a brilliant introduction to epistemological philosophy and is even more important for experienced philosophers. It's a book worth reading if solipsism and scepticism are destroying your soul and a generally incredible book to get ones philosophical stone rolling.
From this point, Descartes utilises his pristine rationale to formulate his Cogito argument. The Cogito (through revolutionary, yet, flawed logic) suggests that the 'I' we so liberally refer to must exist, in some form, and we can be absolutely certain of this. Hence the famous Latin phrase 'Cogito Ergo Sum', in French 'Je pense donc Je suis' and in English 'I think therefore I am'. From this underlying philosophical brick, he builds a grand house of statements and principles that we can know: including geometrical and mathematical truths.
Descartes' Meditations is a brilliant introduction to epistemological philosophy and is even more important for experienced philosophers. It's a book worth reading if solipsism and scepticism are destroying your soul and a generally incredible book to get ones philosophical stone rolling.
Format:Paperback
In his Meditations Descartes tries to discard everything that he thinks he knows about what he is, and builds from the foundations up using his famous methodical doubt. Taking in what it is to be human, the Cogito principle, Cartesian duality, the existence of god, and the nature of error, he finally reaches a point where he can be secure about what it is possible to know in a clear and defined way.
Written in 1641, Descartes didn't have the full support of the theological colleges, and this edition helpfully attaches the Objections made to his Meditations, and Descartes' own replies.
For us, the kind of circular reasoning that Descartes demonstrates might not stand up, and certainly we have a very different view of the connection between mind and body following neuroscientific knowledge and ongoing research. But Descartes is important for the scientific methodolgy he tries to instil, and the fundamental nature of the questions he asks, even if some of our answers might be different.
His style isn't always the easiest to understand, as he tends to ramble and be quite repetitive - but for anyone wanting to get a handle on either modern philosophy or the Enlightenment and the ideas which followed, Descartes is fundamental.
Written in 1641, Descartes didn't have the full support of the theological colleges, and this edition helpfully attaches the Objections made to his Meditations, and Descartes' own replies.
For us, the kind of circular reasoning that Descartes demonstrates might not stand up, and certainly we have a very different view of the connection between mind and body following neuroscientific knowledge and ongoing research. But Descartes is important for the scientific methodolgy he tries to instil, and the fundamental nature of the questions he asks, even if some of our answers might be different.
His style isn't always the easiest to understand, as he tends to ramble and be quite repetitive - but for anyone wanting to get a handle on either modern philosophy or the Enlightenment and the ideas which followed, Descartes is fundamental.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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2 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Descartes is legendary indeed
25 Jan 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A critical mind doesn't fall from the sky; it has to be acquired, built up and perfected. Rene' Descartes is and always will be the father of modern philosophy. Descartes' arguments inspired movies such as the Matrix and Inception and rightfully so. HIs legacy still lives on to this day. Descartes is indeed a powerhouse in regards to epistemology, and gave significant proof on how one can give reasons on their own existence.
John Cottingham
"Descartes' Meditations on First philosophy' is, indisputably, one of the greatest philosophical classics of all time."
Descartes on doubting everything
What we must do is find the truth by doubting all we can, and finding the only undoubtable thing then build knowledge based off that foundation.
"I doubt therefore I think therefore I am, the very fact that I doubt my existence, confirms my existence is a thinking thing."
This leads to truth that leads to knowledge
God exists otherwise our knowledge of the external world can only be true if God exists.
John Cottingham
"Descartes' Meditations on First philosophy' is, indisputably, one of the greatest philosophical classics of all time."
Descartes on doubting everything
What we must do is find the truth by doubting all we can, and finding the only undoubtable thing then build knowledge based off that foundation.
"I doubt therefore I think therefore I am, the very fact that I doubt my existence, confirms my existence is a thinking thing."
This leads to truth that leads to knowledge
God exists otherwise our knowledge of the external world can only be true if God exists.
0 of 8 people found the following review helpful
good service
6 Jan 2009
Format:Paperback
The book I received was in exellent shape and it came in a very short time.
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