Descartes: An Analytical and Historical Introduction

After a thorough discussion of several basic issues of metaphysics and epistemology elicited from the main themes and arguments of the Meditations and of the work's historical background and critical reception, Georges Dicker offers his own reflections on Cartesian doubt, the cognito, the causal and ontological proofs of God's existence, the Cartesian circle, Cartesian dualism, and Descarte's views of the material world. Incorporating a wealth of recent scholarship, the commentary includes and cross-references the full text of Meditations I, II, and V, and most of Meditations III and VI, employing John Cottingham's highly praised translation.