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Meditations on First Philosophy is a philosophical treatise by René Descartes first published in 1641.
The book is made up of six meditations, in which Descartes first discards all belief in things that are not absolutely certain, and then tries to establish what can be known for sure. He wrote the meditations as if he had meditated for six days: each meditation refers to the last one as yesterday. (In fact, Descartes began work on the Meditations in 1639.)
One of the most influential philosophical texts ever written, it is widely read to this day.
About the author
René Descartes, born on March 31, 1596, in La Haye en Touraine, France, was a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist. He is often regarded as the father of modern philosophy due to his influential works that departed from traditional scholasticism. Descartes' approach emphasized reason and individual thought, laying the groundwork for the Enlightenment.In 1637, Descartes published Discourse on the Method, introducing his famous dictum, "I think, therefore I am" (Cogito, ergo sum). This work outlined his method of systematic doubt and is considered a foundational text in Western philosophy. His contributions to mathematics include the development of Cartesian geometry, which bridged algebra and geometry.Descartes spent much of his later life in the Dutch Republic, engaging with prominent intellectuals of the time. In 1641, he released Meditations on First Philosophy, further exploring metaphysics and the nature of existence. Descartes passed away on February 11, 1650, in Stockholm, Sweden, leaving a lasting legacy in both philosophy and science.
