Study Guide Questions #10
PHIL101 Introduction to Philosophy
Rene Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy, Meditation One and Two p.59-64 (top)
Meditation One: Concerning those things that can be called into doubt.
For our class, we are reading only a few selections from this book. While the Discourse is written in French for a wider
audience, the Mediations is written in Latin and thus formally geared to a philosophical audience. This book in particular
shaped the development of modern philosophy.
We are reading this first mediation to get a taste of Descartes’ new radical method for philosophy. We shall see the
radical nature of Descartes search for a new foundation for philosophy and all knowledge.
1. What is Descartes goal as states in the beginning of this mediation?
2. Describe the physical setting for Descartes’ philosophical thinking? How does this setting differ from Aristotle’s
and Plato’s?
3. Descartes says he will achieve this goal by throwing away opinion. Which opinions will he throw away? What
criteria will he use to judge an opinion?
4. On p. 60, what is the “mark of prudence” Descartes suggests? (For your own reflection, do you agree with
Descartes? Why or why not?)
5. Briefly summarize how Descartes moves from the deception of the senses, to insanity, to dreaming.
6. What are some of the more “simple and universal” things Descartes thinks it is difficult to doubt? In second full
paragraph on p. 61, which science are rejected and which are retained on this ground?
Descartes then makes some mathematical observations. It seems impossible that certain mathematical truths could be
doubted in any way. However, this does not bring Descartes method to an end.
7. In brief, how does Descartes characterize God in the last paragraph on p. 61? How does Descartes subject this
idea to doubt in the next paragraph?
Descartes then remarks that everything he has taken to be the case is in some way dubitable. He must struggle to
continue with his method, as he often falls back upon old opinions through habit.
Take note of this statement, “[It] is impossible for me to indulge in too much distrust, since I am now concentrating only
on knowledge, not on action.”
8. Thus, in an attempt to carry out his procedure rigorously, Descartes postulates an “evil genius.” In brief, what
does the evil genius do?
Notice that Descartes ends this mediation as one trying to come out of a dream. This language may remind us of Plato’s
cave in the Republic. One might wonder how Descartes’ waking from a dream is like and unlike Plato’s ascent from the
cave.
Mediation Two: Concerning the nature of the human mind: that it is better known than the body. (to top p. 64)
9. What is Descartes’ goal as stated in the first paragraph of this mediation?
Note how Descartes summarizes his starting point for the day: he has no senses, and all body, shape, extension,
movement, and place are illusions.
10. Descartes then tries to doubt that he even exists. Why can’t he be doubtful about this?
And this starting point marks one of the great divides setup between classical philosophical and modern philosophy. We
will see another as we read Francis Bacon and Descartes’ Discourse on Method.