Meditations and Other Metaphysical Writings

Book Description
A new translation of Descartes' masterpiece, along with selections of his other late writings

The six Meditations and accompanying selections from the Objections and Replies provide a definitive statement of what Descartes intended as the foundations of his whole philosophy. His project was to resolve the epistemological questions brought about by the prevailing skepticism of his age; to build, from the basis of self-awareness (Cogito, ergo sum), through the notion of a benevolent God, to a systematic and novel approach to metaphysics; and to construct a secure starting-point for science.

The first part of a new two-volume edition of Descartes in Penguin Classics, this volume consists not only of a new translation of the original Latin text and extensive selections from the Objections and Replies, but also relevant correspondence from the period 1643-49, Part One of The Principles of Philosophy, and Comments on a Certain Manifesto, as examples of Descartes' other metaphysical writings from the period 1641-49.


Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French, Latin


About the Author
Rene Descartes (1596-1650) was born in La Haye, France, and educated at the Jesuit College at La Fleche. In 1628 he retired to the Netherlands to study philosophy until 1649, when he was invited to Sweden to instruct Queen Christina.

Desmond M. Clarke is chair and head of the Department of Philosophy at the National University of Ireland, Cork.


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A new translation of Descartes' masterpiece, along with selections of his other late writings

The six Meditations and accompanying selections from the Objections and Replies provide a definitive statement of what Descartes intended as the foundations of his whole philosophy. His project was to resolve the epistemological questions brought about by the prevailing skepticism of his age; to build, from the basis of self-awareness (Cogito, ergo sum), through the notion of a benevolent God, to a systematic and novel approach to metaphysics; and to construct a secure starting-point for science.

The first part of a new two-volume edition of Descartes in Penguin Classics, this volume consists not only of a new translation of the original Latin text and extensive selections from the Objections and Replies, but also relevant correspondence from the period 1643-49, Part One of The Principles of Philosophy, and Comments on a Certain Manifesto, as examples of Descartes' other metaphysical writings from the period 1641-49.


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