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Meditations One and Two

The best way to read this piece is as an imaginary dialogue that Descartes is having with himself. He wants to see if any of his beliefs are incapable of being doubted (i.e. are certain and indubitable). Throughout the Meditation he will first make a specific claim (for instance, that since his senses have deceived him in the past, they cannot be trusted), and then challenge that claim (i.e., argue that while the sense may deceive about small details, about the big issues -- am I now reading? -- they cannot be mistaken). Descartes may then respond to the challenge, or move to another claim.

For class, PRINT OUT THIS PAGE AND BRING IT TO CLASS. You will be expected to bring in your answers (as best you can) each of the following questions about the Meditations.

1. What is Descartes' goal? Why has he decided to re-examine his beliefs?

 

 

 

2. What is the argument being offered in the fourth and fifth paragraphs of the piece, which begins "But perhaps, although the senses sometimes deceive us...? (p. 108) Try to construct a premise-conclusion version of the argument -- I'll even supply you with the conclusion:

 

 

 

 

"I cannot now be certain that I am not dreaming"

3. In the next paragraph, Descartes suggests that even if we are dreaming, the content of our dreams provides evidence of a "real" world over and above the dream world -- how is this so?

 

 

 

 

 

4. Again, think of the paragraph that begins "All the same, a certain opinion..." (p. 110) as a dialogue -- Descartes offers us a belief he has always possessed (first sentence), proceeds to question it, (second sentence and third sentences), responds to the question, (fourth sentence), etc. What does he end up with?

 

 

 

 

 

5. Descartes believes he clearly is wrong about some of his beliefs; why, he wonders, would a benevolent God allow me to be thus deceived? In the first paragraph you are to read, he tries to point out that those who do not believe in God are in no better (and perhaps are in worse) shape than believers. Why is this so?

 

 

 

 

 

6. What are "these ancient and commonly held opinions" which "still revert frequently to my mind"? What does Descartes resolve to do about them?

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Why does Descartes end up assuming that an evil demon exists whose sole goal is to deceive him? What, in other words, is the purpose of imagining the world to be this way? (This question can't be answered simply by reading the last paragraph; you need to think about the whole piece).