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Marciano Guerrero
Meditations on First Philosophy (In plain American English)
Meditations on First Philosophy (In plain American English)
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The Meditations is Descartes best effort to prove that there are truths which one simply cannot doubt. What is ironic is that while he intends to eradicate total skepticism, he uses a method of systematic doubt.
Yet, Descartes’ method is quite clever, involving powerful skeptical hypotheses which call into doubt classes of knowledge claims by: the senses, the imagination, and reason or understanding. Gradually, Descartes attempts to demolish all accepted truths derived from the senses and the imagination, and many of those which come from reason.
Finally, Descartes concludes that he cannot be deceived into thinking that he does not exist when in fact he does, because unless something existed there would be nothing to deceive. This is a fact—one truth which he can know beyond dispute.
To many, Descartes’ effort was extremely arrogant. Yet, it wasn’t out of step with many other philosophers and scientists who perennially have looked for a solid foundation for human knowledge.
The Meditations are repetitive and at times slow going, but not abstruse. With a little effort the main ideas become accessible to everyone—not just philosophers and the learned.
Our translation focuses on plain language, coupled with sidebar notations, as further means of accessibility to Descartes’ main points.
Yet, Descartes’ method is quite clever, involving powerful skeptical hypotheses which call into doubt classes of knowledge claims by: the senses, the imagination, and reason or understanding. Gradually, Descartes attempts to demolish all accepted truths derived from the senses and the imagination, and many of those which come from reason.
Finally, Descartes concludes that he cannot be deceived into thinking that he does not exist when in fact he does, because unless something existed there would be nothing to deceive. This is a fact—one truth which he can know beyond dispute.
To many, Descartes’ effort was extremely arrogant. Yet, it wasn’t out of step with many other philosophers and scientists who perennially have looked for a solid foundation for human knowledge.
The Meditations are repetitive and at times slow going, but not abstruse. With a little effort the main ideas become accessible to everyone—not just philosophers and the learned.
Our translation focuses on plain language, coupled with sidebar notations, as further means of accessibility to Descartes’ main points.
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