25 pages 50 minutes read

René Descartes

Meditations on First Philosophy

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1641

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Essay Topics

1.

Descartes’s Meditations has two major points of investigation: the existence of God and the immortality of the soul. He argues that these questions are suited for philosophers. Think about the importance of method in these meditations. Explicate three major tenets of his method and why they are important. Are they sufficient for answering these questions?

2.

Think about the role of body. Is body an integral aspect of knowing God clearly and distinctly? Can the body be known only in relation to the mind? Do you agree with Descartes’s conclusion that external objects can be known clearly and distinctly insofar as they are objects of pure mathematics?

3.

Analyze Descartes’s wax experiment. How does this experiment allow him to distinguish between perceivable attributes of a substance and the imperceivable objectivity within the substance? How is continuity retained if our senses are easily deceived? Think about the role of God in relation to the particular and universal dichotomy.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 25 pages of this Study Guide
Plus, gain access to 8,500+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools

Related Titles

By René Descartes