Meditations and Other Metaphysical WritingsOne of the foundation-stones of modern philosophy Descartes was prepared to go to any lengths in his search for certainty—even to deny those things that seemed most self-evident. In his Meditations of 1641, and in the Objections and Replies that were included with the original publication, he set out to dismantle and then reconstruct the idea of the individual self and its existence. In doing so, Descartes developed a language of subjectivity that has lasted to this day, and he also took his first steps towards the view that would eventually be expressed in the epigram Cogito, ergo sum ("I think, therefore I am"), one of modern philosophy's most famous—and most fiercely contested—claims. The first part of a two-volume edition of Descartes' works in Penguin Classics, the second of which is Discourse on Method & Related Writings. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. |
Contents
Letter of Dedication to the Sorbonne | 8 |
Preface to the Reader | 12 |
Summary of the Following Six Meditations | 14 |
Meditations | 18 |
Objections and Replies Selections | 71 |
The Principles of Philosophy | 105 |
Letter to Princess Elizabeth | 109 |
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Common terms and phrases
animal spirits arguments attribute believe belongs body brain called Cartesian cause certainly chiliagon claim clear and distinct clearly and distinctly colour completely conceive concept conclusion consider contained convinced counter-reformation deceive demonstrated deny depend Descartes Dioptrics Discourse on Method distinguish doubt easily error essence everything evident example explain extension external fact faculty false finite follows God's existence happen human mind imagination included infinite innate insofar intellect intentional reality judge judgement kind knowledge light of reason likewise M. A. Screech Marin Mersenne Meditations merely metaphysics mistaken mode motion move movements natural light natural philosophy never Nicolas Malebranche objects occur pain passions perceive clearly perception physical substance physical things possible Princess Elizabeth Principles of Philosophy Pyrrhonism question René Descartes Replies result right angles scepticism scholastic scholastic philosophy seems sensation senses shape someone soul square supremely perfect thinking thing thought triangle true truth understand clearly understood writings