"Second Meditations"

Analytical Essay # 59323

English > Analysis
Philosophy > Epistemology

An analysis of Rene Descartes's "Second Meditations," with a focus on his famous statement, "I think, therefore I am."

848 words () | 1 source | MLA | 2004

Paper Summary:

This paper contends that, while thoughts on the reality of our existence may seem very strange to some, possibly even a waste of time, as one reads Descartes's "Meditations," one does not only discover that his questions are valid, but that his famous statement, "I think, therefore I am," defines the source of reality insofar as it distinguishes us as independent beings, capable of thoughts, reason, and therefore, action and decision. In other words, while one may initially assume that there is no need to prove the reality of individual existence, in proving it, Descartes effectively defines us as independent "selves".

From the Paper:

"As one reads through Descartes' "Second Meditations," one discovers that it is firstly filled with doubt concerning the nature of reality and existence. As Descartes writes, he can only resolve these doubts surrounding what reality is, and whether or not he exists through the following: "I will therefore suppose that all I see is illusion" (Descartes). In other words, he will begin with the hypothesis that he is not real and that reality itself is not real and that everything is an illusion. Then, he will proceed to test that hypothesis by looking at the evidence for reality and the evidence for his own existence."