Book Description

Descartes' "Meditations" probably rivals Plato's "Republic" as the work most frequently read or recommended as an introduction to philosophy. Its qualifications for this purpose are obvious: it is important, relatively short, well written, and seems--in the beginning at least--readily understandable. One of the most influential works in the history of Western thought, the "Meditations" has often been considered the keynote of modern philosophy. This collection of critical discussions is intended primarily for use by students reading Descartes in an introductory philosophy course. These essays will lead a reader to explore several of the problems which emerge when "Meditations" is subjected to careful scrutiny. Not all the problems raised by the "Meditations" are examined, but they provide the means to transform the work from a merely historical document into a nest of currently interesting questions.